Deprecated: mb_convert_encoding(): Handling HTML entities via mbstring is deprecated; use htmlspecialchars, htmlentities, or mb_encode_numericentity/mb_decode_numericentity instead in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/super-cool-ad-inserter/inc/scaip-shortcode-inserter.php on line 37

Last week, I.A.T.S.E. Local No. 3 announced that it would “banner” the First Night celebration to protest the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s use of outside labor for the event. But the union’s business agent, Robert Brown, told City Paper this morning that he’s hopeful the Trust and the union can come to an agreement and avoid a protest.

“Hopefully, First Night is a wonderful event and we’re not forced to take any action at all,” Brown said. He declined to comment further on what he characterized as continuing talks between the 400-member union and the Cultural Trust, which runs First Night.

The union and the Trust have a relationship that goes back to the Trust’s inception, in 1986. The current dispute dates to 2003, when the Trust took over First Night, the Downtown community New Year’s Eve celebration encompassing events on the street and in dozens of galleries, theaters and other venues.

The Trust employs I.A.T.S.E. members throughout the year at such venues at the Byham Theater and the Benedum Center. But while union members also staff those theaters during First Night, the Trust has continued the First Night practice of hiring outside, nonunion workers to staff outdoor venues, like the mainstage located at Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street.

Last week, Trust CEO and President Kevin McMahon told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he was concerned that using union stagehands would have a negative effect on First Night’s finances. But according both to the paper and a blog post by an informed observer, the pay scale does not appear to be the only issue.

The Trust pays $20.50 an hour for the nonunion First Night workers, slightly less than I.A.T.S.E. workers make. The union agreed to work the event for that scale, but the dispute continues. The trust and the union have also discussed whether the union would get “jurisdiction” for other Trust-organized events, such as the mostly outdoor Three Rivers Arts Festival.

The impasse has even resulted in an early-December meeting between the two parties in the office of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

I.A.T.S.E. officials have contended that as an event that receives taxpayer funding, First Night should provide workers the prevailing wages, benefits and conditions. According to the web site of the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, First Night received grants totaling $125,000 for this year’s event.

(Correction (Added Dec. 30): The $125,000 in DCED funding for “First Night 2011,” as listed on that agency’s web site, was actually awarded for the December 2010 First Night (though the funding wasn’t issued until 2011). This year’s First Night received no government funding of any kind, says Trust CEO and President Kevin McMahon.)

The Trust also receives considerable funding from local taxpayers. Between 1995 and 2011, the Trust was awarded $9.6 million in funding from the Allegheny Regional Asset District, which administers proceeds of a 1 percent sales tax. (RAD funding, which cannot be used for festivals, was not used for First Night. But among arts and culture organizations, only the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has received more overall support than the Trust.)

The Cultural Trust is one of Downtown’s largest property owners, with properties including the Byham, the Benedum, the O’Reilly Theater (home of Pittsburgh Public Theater), Wood Street and SPACE galleries and numerous other small gallery and theater spaces. It is also a programmer, presenting series including PNC Broadway Across America, the Pittsburgh Dance Council, and the Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater and Festival.

This article appears in Dec 28, 2011 – Jan 3, 2012.

Latest in Lynn Cullen Live

SLIDESHOWS

RELATED

5 replies on “Tension continues between stagehands union and First Night organizers”

  1. As the “informed observer” in Bill O’Driscoll’s blog about Pgh Staghands, just a postscript to my linked article/ blog. After some pressure, the Pgh Post-Gazette finally published “Pgh Stagehands Circumvented for First Night” on Dec. 29, 2011, in a specially-assigned Business Forum section. Thanks to Brian Hyslop (P-G) and Bill. (See also Occupy with Art (national): http://www.occupywithart.com/blog/2011/12/…
    –Lisa A. Miles

  2. I’m confused about the articles and blogs I’ve been reading about IATSE’s complaints against The Cultural Trust and First Night. Was there a breach of contract? Or is IATSE just pouting that they didn’t get this particular gig? As far as I know, FlySpace is not an out-of-town company. From the research I did after reading posts and articles, I found they’ve been an independent professional production company in Pittsburgh for 10 years. NO, I do not work for Flyspace. But I felt it was important enough to look into it. Why does IATSE feel they have a monopoly on these events? It’s not like the Cultural Trust hired unprofessional trasient vagbonds to set up for First Night. Just because they aren’t union, doesn’t mean they’re not professionals. In these trying economic times, I can understand why IATSE is disappointed they weren’t hired for this particular event. These things happen. Personally, I’m disappointed that they are acting like bullies to bad-mouth the hard workers that were hired. They’re not SCABS that crossed a picket line. They were hired to do a job. It gives the union a bad name to try bullying tactics because they didn’t get a gig. I hope the Cultural Trust does not give in to this ploy. If there was a contract that was legally broken by the Cultural Trust, my apologies. However, an employer does not need to offer an explanation as to why they didn’t hire an employee. And having a tantrum doesn’t change that fact. It just taints the reputation of the organization that can’t move on.

  3. Actually I completely understand and Now after about 8yrs later I completely understand why Loca 3 is upset and didnt understand then but do now, as The reason there upset is because the cult.Trust Hires Hollowood Sound to provide production for the show ALONG WITH the stagehands and labor And After working there for 8yrs and reading above that the Cult.Trust was paying 20$ and something to the non union labor is a bunch of bs or at least THEY THOUGHT THAT THE NON UNION LABOR WAS GETTING PAID that amount per hour When ACTUALLY WE WERE NOT. HOLLOWOOD SOUND PAID US A FLAT RATE OF $100Per Day W/No per diem for food or anything.we were on our own. PUTING IN Min. 15Hr Days. THats 6.66PER HR THATS NOT EVEN MIN. AGE!!! As Anyone who has worked for HOLLOWOODS Knows THat the Owner GARY HOLLOWOOD treats his guys Financially Terrible and Takes advantage of His Labors And ProFessional Engineers By Paying Them All a FLat low Rate & told Us PARTIC. FOR FIRST NIGHT & ARTS FEST. “IM SORRY THATS ALL I CAN AFFORD” & people like myself who didnt know any better as the company knew at the time that there was no where else to go in PGH To work in the Concert Production industry & literally brainwashes his guys into thinking that without Hollowood Sound as there employer, Theres no other place to go in PGH to work& Gary Hollowood Takes advantage of this & paid us whatever he pleased as all of us who never new any better would work 7 days straight or 4 DAYS straight 15-20 hr Days for 1st NIGHT from set up to running the show to tear down for 344$ While Hollowood Sound gets cut a check for $20,000.00 FOR THE 14 day Festival & best of All He has them right the Check To just “HOLLOWOOD” YEA!!! Put 2&2 Together!!! Thats right MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT HOLLOWOOD IS THE LAST NAME OF 3 OWNERS!!! & Might I also ADD There all brothers & the person who was in charge of payroll was the oldest brother who up until a couple of years ago didnt know the scam His Brother was Pulling In the Live sound division as a few years ago he pressed charges against him filing for a undisclosed amount and won! Good FOr Him! BUT THIS IS THE REASON US GUYS GOT PAID LESS, SO HIS OLDER BROTHER CUTTING THE CHECKS COULDN’T FIGURE OUT WHY THE PAYROLL WAS SO MUCH IF THERE WASN’T ANY SHOWS COMING IN!!! THIS WAY THE THE GARY POCKETED 80% OF the income ALONG WITH HIS WEEKLY SALARY CHECK CAUSE HOLLOWOOD is INC. & WOULD ONLY DEPOSIT SO MANY CHECK PER MONTH THAT WERE WRITTEN TO HOLLOWOOD PRO-SOUND , WELL OBVIOUSLY SOMEONE GOT TO GREEDY THATS HOW HIS BROTHER FOUND OUT! & TO This Day he still PAYS ALL HIS GUYS 125$ PER SHOW 12 hr day or 24hr Day. 40hr week or 100 wk IT NEVER & FROM WHAT I STILL HEAR HASN’T CHANGED. THE ONLY thing that has changed is Hollowood isn’t no Longer THe Big Dog in town as for 20yrs he would purposely put any competition to the floor by purposely underbidding cause he could. Well Spectrum Audio Productions In the past 2 years has been the new TOP DOG in PGH who HOLLOWOOD SOUND FOR THE 1st TIME Cant put under& THE COMPANY ACTUALLY PAYS THERE GUYS ACCORDINGLY WORKS TOGETHER with local 3 when need for all shows. YES I KNOW I WAS STUPID FOR WORKING THERE ALL THOSE YRS & ONLY HAVE MYSELF to Blame! I JUST WISH Others who know what im talking about who have left Hollowood Sound for the same reason Which I come to find out almost all of local 3 did at one point along with others would do SOmething about Hollowoods as there guys are literally SLAVE LABORS & THE IRS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT ALONG W/ALL THE VENUES WHO THINK THERE PAYING HOLLOWOODS A CERTAIN AMOUNT FOR LABOR & ENGINEERS ECT. YEA !!!! THINK AGAIN!!! THIS COMPANY NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN ALONG WITH PAYING ALL HIS ex EMPLOYEES A LUMP SUM FOR ALL THE 20hr DAYS WORKED FOR 5$ PER HR!!! HOW DOES THIS COMPANY CONTINUE TO GET AWAY WITH THIS LEGALLY !!!

  4. Might I Also add that If you are going to deal with Hollowood sound the only person who ever cared about his employees and tried numerous times to change the way things were ran is the son of the Owner who runs the live sound division Brad Hollowood. As brad is next in line to take over and hope that by the time he does his father hasn’t run the company completely to the ground as Brad would take care of his employees and would be fair and work with local 3 if needed and would run the company the way any other company should be ran as I personally know he has tried time and time again but obviously he can only do so much not being the owner! Please NOT Everything written Below is all 100% TRUE from the amount of money Hollowood makes on show to how much he paid his guys ect. As no one has had the guts to speak out and tell the public the truth as they were all scared to lose there jobs or repercussions/Threats made to us employees at the time by the OWNER not His son. I completely support and understand were local 3 is coming from AND WELL IF HOLLLOWOOD SOUND GIVES THE CULT.TRUST A TOTAL LUMP SUM like $20,000.00 FOR THE 14 day FESTIVAL THAT INCLUDED ALL LABOR, SURE THE CULT.TRUST IS GOING TO GO WITH THE COMPANY vs LOCAL 3 as THATS WHAT THE OWNER DOES IS LOW BALLS HIS GIGS ENOUGH TO WHERE LOCAL 3 price is not nearly as close I’m GUESSING idk, & Since He pays his guys below min.wage this is how HOLLOWOODS GETS AWAY WITH THIS! PAYS HIS GUYS GARBAGE, ALL THE GEAR OWNED is PAID OFF SO HE HAS A LOW OVERHEAD TO THAT HE CAN GIVE 2 SHITS ABOUT. OH AND I FORGOT TO ADD THE OWNER POCKETS ALL THE RENTAL MONEY FROM EQUIP.RENTALS AS HIS EMPLOYEES ARE TOLD & SHOWED WHERE TO PUT ALL THE CASH FROM THE RENTALS THAT GO OUT WEEKLY WHICH IS INSIDE OF A ENVELOPE THAT GARY EMPTIES OUT & PUTS IN HIS POCKET LITERALLY AS I PERSONALLY SEEN IT FOR 5 YRS I GUESS WHAT THE IRS & HIS BROTHERS DONT KNOW ABOUT DOESNT MEAN A THING. MUST BE NICE GETTING a WEEKLY SALARY CHECK FOR $1,500 PLUS a MIN. of 300$ CASH PER WKD FOR RENTALS ALONG WITH THE BIG ONE!”CHECKS WRITTEN TO JUST “HOLLOWOOD” FOR DEPOSIT INTO HIS PERSONAL CHECKING ACCOUNT, WHICH ANYTHING OVER $10,000 BY LAW SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AUTOM. SO IDK HOW HE HAS GOTTEN AWAY WITH THIS PROB. BECAUSE ONLY A FEW CHECKS A YEAR WERE OVER 10 GRAND . AVERAGE CHECK WRITTEN TO HIS NAME was always avr.2,500$ MUST BE NICE PAYING UR GUYS SHIT, STEALING FROM UR BROTHERS & TAKING HOME yES TAKE HOME OF a Min. of 10,000$ PER WK.!!!

  5. Actually I completely understand and Now after about 8yrs later I completely understand why Loca 3 is upset and didnt understand then but do now, as The reason there upset is because the cult.Trust Hires Hollowood Sound to provide production for the show ALONG WITH the stagehands and labor And After working there for 8yrs and reading above that the Cult.Trust was paying 20$ and something to the non union labor is a bunch of bs or at least THEY THOUGHT THAT THE NON UNION LABOR WAS GETTING PAID that amount per hour When ACTUALLY WE WERE NOT. HOLLOWOOD SOUND PAID US A FLAT RATE OF $100Per Day W/No per diem for food or anything.we were on our own. PUTING IN Min. 15Hr Days. THats 6.66PER HR THATS NOT EVEN MIN. AGE!!! As Anyone who has worked for HOLLOWOODS Knows THat the Owner GARY HOLLOWOOD treats his guys Financially Terrible and Takes advantage of His Labors And ProFessional Engineers By Paying Them All a FLat low Rate & told Us PARTIC. FOR FIRST NIGHT & ARTS FEST. “IM SORRY THATS ALL I CAN AFFORD” & people like myself who didnt know any better as the company knew at the time that there was no where else to go in PGH To work in the Concert Production industry & literally brainwashes his guys into thinking that without Hollowood Sound as there employer, Theres no other place to go in PGH to work& Gary Hollowood Takes advantage of this & paid us whatever he pleased as all of us who never new any better would work 7 days straight or 4 DAYS straight 15-20 hr Days for 1st NIGHT from set up to running the show to tear down for 344$ While Hollowood Sound gets cut a check for $20,000.00 FOR THE 14 day Festival & best of All He has them right the Check To just “HOLLOWOOD” YEA!!! Put 2&2 Together!!! Thats right MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT HOLLOWOOD IS THE LAST NAME OF 3 OWNERS!!! & Might I also ADD There all brothers & the person who was in charge of payroll was the oldest brother who up until a couple of years ago didnt know the scam His Brother was Pulling In the Live sound division as a few years ago he pressed charges against him filing for a undisclosed amount and won! Good FOr Him! BUT THIS IS THE REASON US GUYS GOT PAID LESS, SO HIS OLDER BROTHER CUTTING THE CHECKS COULDN’T FIGURE OUT WHY THE PAYROLL WAS SO MUCH IF THERE WASN’T ANY SHOWS COMING IN!!! THIS WAY THE THE GARY POCKETED 80% OF the income ALONG WITH HIS WEEKLY SALARY CHECK CAUSE HOLLOWOOD is INC. & WOULD ONLY DEPOSIT SO MANY CHECK PER MONTH THAT WERE WRITTEN TO HOLLOWOOD PRO-SOUND , WELL OBVIOUSLY SOMEONE GOT TO GREEDY THATS HOW HIS BROTHER FOUND OUT! & TO This Day he still PAYS ALL HIS GUYS 125$ PER SHOW 12 hr day or 24hr Day. 40hr week or 100 wk IT NEVER & FROM WHAT I STILL HEAR HASN’T CHANGED. THE ONLY thing that has changed is Hollowood isn’t no Longer THe Big Dog in town as for 20yrs he would purposely put any competition to the floor by purposely underbidding cause he could. Well Spectrum Audio Productions In the past 2 years has been the new TOP DOG in PGH who HOLLOWOOD SOUND FOR THE 1st TIME Cant put under& THE COMPANY ACTUALLY PAYS THERE GUYS ACCORDINGLY WORKS TOGETHER with local 3 when need for all shows. YES I KNOW I WAS STUPID FOR WORKING THERE ALL THOSE YRS & ONLY HAVE MYSELF to Blame! I JUST WISH Others who know what im talking about who have left Hollowood Sound for the same reason Which I come to find out almost all of local 3 did at one point along with others would do SOmething about Hollowoods as there guys are literally SLAVE LABORS & THE IRS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT ALONG W/ALL THE VENUES WHO THINK THERE PAYING HOLLOWOODS A CERTAIN AMOUNT FOR LABOR & ENGINEERS ECT. YEA !!!! THINK AGAIN!!! THIS COMPANY NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN ALONG WITH PAYING ALL HIS ex EMPLOYEES A LUMP SUM FOR ALL THE 20hr DAYS WORKED FOR 5$ PER HR!!! HOW DOES THIS COMPANY CONTINUE TO GET AWAY WITH THIS LEGALLY !!!

Comments are closed.