MEDIA ADVISORY: I.A.T.S.E. Local 58 to protest on opening night of Live Nation's History Nightclub
TORONTO, Nov. 5, 2021 /CNW/ - The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) Local 58 will hold a protest outside History nightclub at 6:00 p.m. on November 7, 2021, to mark opening night of Live Nation's new venue. In consideration of continued COVID-19 measures, the protest will take the form of a digital presence outside of History Nightclub rather than a traditional picket line.
I.A.T.S.E. Local 58 represents stagehands at many comparable venues throughout the city of Toronto such as Massey Hall, Roy Thomson Hall and Meridian Hall. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Local 58 has continued to fight for workers' rights and protections within the live entertainment industry for both unionized and unrepresented workers in the City of Toronto.
In advance of History nightclub's opening, Local 58 reached out to Live Nation to discuss how the two groups could work together to ensure that venue employees would have the job protections and fair wages that have been highlighted as basic rights and necessities throughout the pandemic. Unfortunately, it was made quite clear by Live Nation during these conversations that the multibillion-dollar entertainment company has no desire to work with the union to protect workers' rights or ensure fair compensation.
"We are hugely disappointed in Live Nation's decision to undercompensate labour rather than find ways to ensure some sort of security for workers in the live entertainment industry," says I.A.T.S.E. Local 58 president Justin Antheunis.
Workers in non-union live music venues notoriously work long hours at rates well below the area standards for workers in live entertainment, often for cash, meaning they aren't even covered by basic protections under the Employment Standards Act.
"The fact that Live Nation would rather line the pockets of a labour provider or perpetuate the low wages found in these cash-based transactions than pay the skilled technicians what their knowledge and experience is worth is deplorable," says Antheunis. "It's yet another example of a multi-national company trying to drive down the wages of workers in this city, at a time when it's only getting more expensive to live here."
The digital protest outside History nightclub will take place at 6:00 p.m. on November 7, 2021. President Antheunis will be on site to answer questions.
SOURCE IATSE Local 58
Media contact: Justin Antheunis, President, I.A.T.S.E. Local 58, [email protected], 647-241-5588
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