Arlington Stagehands Strike

Support your local unions and boycott MTC!

MTC has in no way has negotiated in good faith with these hard working men and women who just want a fair contract. Why would anyone negotiate and agree to a contract that does away with their jobs? MTC will blame this strike on any disruptions involving the Film Festival. However, this will be the fault of MTC. The honored actors are members of supporting unions and should be in full support of IATSE #442.

Bruce Corwin has been pro union since he became involved in his family owned business. Unfortunately, good business sense has not run in the family. His son has made some poor business choices and has left his dedicated staff out to dry.

Under the propsed agreement the local stagehands will most likely lose their jobs (and insurance) and join the rest of the struggling unemployed citizens in SB while MTC charges astronomical amount of money for their cheap popcorn and pricey admission. If anyone wants to do some investigative reporting find out why MTC has let someone live in the Arlington Theater for years. Sounds like a City code violation to me.

The wise words of Henry Rollins best sums it up... " Listen to the stage manager and get on stage when they tell you to. Know one has time for the Rock Star Bullsh*t. None of the techs backstage care if you're David Bowie or the milkman . When you act like a jerk, they are completely unimpressed with the infantile display that you might think comes with you're dubious status. They were there hours before you building the stage, and they will be there hours after you tearing it down. They should get your salary and you should get theirs........."

Rock On IATSE 442.

Open Letter to the People of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo Counties.

As the Vice President of I.A.T.S.E. Local 442 I would like to clarify some statements that have been made in the media concerning our strike action at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara.

Management has created language to call individuals to work directly and to only utilize the Hiring Hall when it chooses. This is the single most disputed term in the whole proposal. It is attached to the contract as a side-letter of agreement.

A new Hourly Base Rate is created for “Stage Utility” paying $3/hour less than a “Stagehand”. It should be noted that Stage Utility has never been a department within the jurisdiction. It does not exist in entertainment contracts. Management would not define this classification and when it would be utilized. It implies a non-skilled labor class and we are in the business of supplying skilled labor. This is the second most disputed item in the contract.

Alone these terms are bad, together they are intolerable. With the” Side-letter” it is feasible that Management could choose to hire four people from anywhere to provide its four department head positions and fill the remainder of the work call with Stage Utility people. This would have the effect of a 14% pay cut for all working under that classification, effectively the entire crew.

Management has said that they would not do something like this but are unwilling to close the loophole by further defining the terms under which they would hire outside of the Union and activate the Stage Utility position. In their proposal, the Technical Director of the Arlington would make these decisions.

The Technical Director is the “union member that is willing to work” under the new terms. Management has referred to this person in their statements. He is a manager written into the union contract. He is a person who is, for whatever reason, disillusioned with the union and willing to work against it’s goals. The International body of the union is behind the local membership. This person is acting alone for his own purposes and does not represent us.

Our goal is what it has been since the beginning, to bring management back to the table.

Support local presenters and ask that they use other venues until this impasse has been resolved!
Please ask Metropolitan to reconsider their position.

-Erik Moore
Vice President
IATSE Local 442

I am a Local Santa Barbara Stage Hand. I make my living here went to school and learned my craft here. I am asked to come to work at The Arlington Theater 15 minutes early to the call with all my tools, ready to work in a very dangerous technical industrial environment.

I arrive at the back door of the Arlington theater and knock to be let in. The door is violently pushed open only to reveal a very angry Man in his underwear smoking a cigarette shouting at me that he was asleep and I woke him up! He slams the door shut and I move away. I ask another person that worked at the Arlington what was all of that about. He explained to me that the Stage Manger Mr.Coolly lives in the Back of the theatre and you should not try to go in the theatre until he wakes up..

Why is this guy living in the back of the theatre? and Why has the City of Santa Barbara not Fined MTC Several Thousand dollars for this. Commercial property owners must pay taxes fees permits etc to own and operate residential living places. The Fire Department does not want this person living inside a commercial building smoking and sleeping on the couch. Yet This has been his home for over 10 years!. This person treats the "Historic" Arlington theatre like is own personal trash heap. He leaves his broken down cars, and trash all around the back side of the theater. Inside the theater is his personal play area where you really are not allowed to do your job due to the incredible lack of maintenance and broken down conditions. Never mind the fact you have to move his personal living space junk out of the way just to do your job.

Bruce Corwin should be appalled at what this one person has done to his Jewel The Arlington Theatre

As for this new contract mess,

These live show events are a pass thru cost to Metropolitan Theater Corporation. Producers that rent the building pay our salaries.. And in most case they have just come from the L.A. Or San Francisco markets where our Brothers and Sisters make 50% more in wages. These producers gladly pay these rates in the surrounding markets, Yet in Santa Barbara we are traditionally paid up to 50% less to do the same job with less people.

Are those working conditions you would accept?

Local Stage Hand