Manhattan Center Studios Unfair To Labor

In February 2003, the house stagehands at Manhattan Center Studios, which includes the Hammerstein Ballroom, voted by a 5 to 1 margin in a federal National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election to be represented by Theatrical Stage Employees Local No. One of the IATSE, AFL-CIO. Local One represents the stagehands on Broadway, at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theatre, Summerstage in Central Park, and at ABC, NBC, and CBS, among many venues.

Since Local One’s been certified by the NLRB, the management of Manhattan Center Studios has engaged in legal warfare with the crew and the union, refusing even to meet to negotiate a first contract. The NLRB has issued an unfair labor practice complaint against the Manhattan Center Studios and is prosecuting it to summary judgment. Management continues to play legal tricks and delaying tactics, defying the will of its own house stagehands and the federal government.

The stagehands at Manhattan Center Studios who are doing the work on this exciting event for the MoveOn Voter Fund want a union contract in order to have decent wages and benefits to support themselves and their families and to provide for their future security. A union contract would also mean safer working conditions that benefit everyone who uses the Manhattan Center’s facilities: stagehands, performers, and audience members.

You can help by calling the Manhattan Center’s CEO, Russell Arnold, at 212-695-6600 (or e-mailing him at russ@mcstudios.com) and requesting that he sit down and negotiate in good faith with Local One for a contract for the house stagehands.

THIS REQUEST IS DIRECTED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND IS NEITHER A REQUEST THAT ANY EMPLOYER CEASE DEALING WITH THE MANHATTAN CENTER STUDIOS NOR THAT ANY EMPLOYEE OF ANY EMPLOYER CEASE PERFORMING WORK AT OR MAKING DELIVERIES TO THE MANHATTAN CENTER STUDIOS.