Production and backstage workers at Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) got their first union contract after a vote from the Members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 13. This marks a local milestone for these types of workers in the theater industry, and it sets an example for theater unions across the nation. North Star Stories talks with a CTC administrator and a union representative about the process gains and next steps for the workers.
Transcript
ANCHOR: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.
[Sound element: a crowd waiting for a performance to start]
Victor Palomino: Last February, a group of production and backstage workers at Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) stepped into the spotlight. Members of The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 13 voted to ratify their first union contract for this type of workers after two years of negotiations.
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Kellie Larson: So anybody who kind of helps you through the public side of seeing a show, that's the group of people that you're talking about here.
Victor Palomino: That’s Kellie Larson, business agent for IATSE Local 13. A key focus of the negotiations was securing language on diversity protections, accessibility accommodations, wage increases, and expanded benefits for this group of staff.
Kellie Larson: They really wanted to make sure that everybody who was working in those front facing positions felt as comfortable coming to the theater as possible. So that's kind of where this all started, and that was very important to them. I do feel like this children's theater front facing contract is probably the most progressive contract that we have out in our local today.
Jill Anderson: I think the greatest benefit ultimately is to our audiences and the communities we serve.
Victor Palomino: That’s Jill Anderson, Managing Director of CTC, who joined the negotiations in July.
Jill Anderson: I think ultimately CTC is supporting the workers who directly engage with tens of thousands of people every year. So I think that there's a win win win for our organization and our communities through this negotiation.
Victor Palomino: Health and safety protections were another major priority, particularly in response to respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and the flu.
Kellie Larson: They worked together for that long to make sure that their voices got heard and their working conditions got taken care of. It's a huge solidarity move and they should be proud of that.
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Victor Palomino: In 2024, union members made up 14.2% of wage and salary workers in Minnesota, up from 13.3% in 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. With the contract now in place, the focus shifts to implementation, a delicate balance to ensure that workers, patrons, and the organization itself avoid major financial strain.
Jill Anderson: We estimate the economic impact for next season of the various elements of the negotiation to be about $70,000 for the children's theater company. That won't directly impact ticket prices. And so making sure that we can absorb that increased expense and take care of our staff. And generally speaking, not have to pass that along to patrons. But it's a it's a tough balancing act to navigate.
Victor Palomino: This victory for workers comes at a time when the nation is shifting away from recognizing the contributions of diverse communities.
Kellie Larson: Is amazing to sit down with friends and colleagues from across the Twin Cities, across the state, really, and really talk about how this theater is truly supporting the asks of their workers through equity, diversity, inclusion language, through gender fluidity language, through accessibility language. it's really cool to see the employer come to the table with such an open mind surrounding these things, which not every employer is.
Victor Palomino: Many front-of-house and production workers are part-time employees or earn minimum wage, something Local 13 kept in mind throughout the process.
Kellie Larson: That’s hard when you add on membership fees to join a local to make sure your voices continue to be heard.
Victor Palomino: The union is also working on similar efforts at a national level.
Kellie Larson: We are actually working with the international three cities um to make sure that this membership, this career path that they've chosen for themselves is still affordable at the end of the day. Local 13 has dropped our assessment dues by 50%.
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Victor Palomino: This agreement marks a small but significant victory for theater workers in Minnesota, one that could set an example for other theater companies across the country. As the industry moves forward in securing better working conditions, one thing remains clear: the show must go on.
For North Star Stories, I'm Victor Palomino.
ANCHOR: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers.org.