IATSE, Kravis Center End Long-Running Labor DisputeIATSE Local 500 South Florida and the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Florida announced an agreement on December 21, ending a 12-year labor dispute that began in September 2000 due to alleged unfair firing practices. The agreement came just three days after IATSE called for an unfair labor practice strike against the Kravis. The resolution provides for a new five-year labor contract, the withdrawal of all pending unfair labor practice charges, and a resolution of the back pay elements of the case. IATSE stated in its call to strike that the Kravis Center was in continuous violation of federal labor law since it unlawfully fired stage hands and began committing massive unfair labor practices in September 2000. In 2002, the center was found guilty by a federal administrative law judge, by the NLRB in 2007, and by a federal appellate court in 2008. The Kravis Center had not paid damages, which the NLRB claimed to be more than $2.6 million with interest. In January 2009, under court order, the Kravis Center returned to bargaining. Then in January 2011, IATSE states that the center illegally fired stagehands and committed more unfair labor practices. IATSE estimated that damages accrued at more than $300,000 per year, and the Kravis's unlawful conduct adversely affected the ability of stagehands to make a decent living. In January 2012, Judith Mitchell, the Kravis Center's CEO, met with the IATSE International president to resolve the issues. The two parties reached an agreement until the Kravis Center backed out of the agreement. IATSE issued another complaint against the center for bargaining in bad faith by regressive bargaining. According to the complaint, the representative of the Kravis Center "admitted that he had lied to representatives of the union during the collective-bargaining negotiations." On December 20, Actors' Equity released an official statement of support on its website. "Today, the National Council of Actors' Equity met and voted unanimously to officially lend its support to Local 500/IATSE in its 12-year struggle to achieve a fair and equitable contract with the Kravis Center (West Palm Beach, Florida). The safety of Equity's members is paramount. Without the skills and expertise of our IATSE brothers and sisters who load in and run Equity touring productions, Equity believes our members' safety would be at risk. AEA also strongly believes that audience members expect, pay for, and deserve a professional cast, professional musicians, and professional stagehands." The new agreement effectively ends the current strike and allows for the immediate return to work of the IATSE stage hands at the Kravis Center. IATSE Local 500 business representative Terry McKenzie states, "The union looks forward to building a positive relationship that contributes to the success of the Kravis Center and gainful employment for the people we represent," Jim Mitchell, chief operations officer for The Kravis Center notes, "The Kravis Center is glad to resolve this dispute in a way that was acceptable to both sides. We are anxious for our theatre operations to return to business as usual." 
|
