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Union drive at theaters falls short
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Union drive at theaters falls short | |
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Submitted by admin on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 12:53pm | Organizing | Minneapolis | |
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Union drive at theaters falls short May 27, 2004 MINNEAPOLIS — An effort to create the first totally union movie theaters in Minnesota fell short Wednesday, when Landmark Theater workers voted 20-13 against representation. If a majority of the workers at the Edina Cinema, Lagoon Cinema and Uptown Theatre had voted to join United Food & Commercial Workers Local 789, they would have created the first wall-to-wall union movie theaters in Minnesota, perhaps in the United States. “We were a little surprised,” Local 789 Organizer Chris Conry said of the outcome of the vote. He said union supporters believed they would win, but in recent weeks Landmark management had employed a union-busting firm from California “and they must have done a pretty good job to spread fear, doubt and division.” Thirty-six people were eligible to vote and 33 actually did so. “We’re glad so many people turned out to vote,” Conry said. The workers’ committee and union representatives will meet to debrief and discuss what happened, he said. “What happens next is really in the hands of people working there,” he said. Under federal labor law, the soonest another vote on UFCW representation could take place is one year from now. "Obviously, we are disappointed by the outcome. However, we applaud the workers who had the courage to make this happen. They took real risks, hoping to improve their workplace and they deserve recognition for that," said Don Seaquist, president of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 789. The election was the culmination of a campaign that began on April 14, when the Twin Cities movie theatre workers petitioned the National Labor Relations Board requesting a union election. Throughout the last six weeks, workers continued to talk with each other and built community support. Patrons and passersby signed a statement outside the Uptown Theater in support of workers' efforts to form a union. On Tuesday, the day before the election, supporters packed a showing of the documentary “Super Size Me” at the Uptown Theater. The theater sold 185 tickets to the 7 p.m. screening, compared to 95 tickets the previous Tuesday night, the union said. Theater workers reported that concession sales tripled. As patrons entered the theater, they signed a statement supporting the union campaign. This article includes reporting by Steve Share, Minneapolis Labor Review editor. |
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