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Quality of Film Drops in the Meantime... "Last weekend, employees of the Landmark-owned movie theatres were required to view anti-union videos, described by Uptown Theatre employee Eric Steil as “a union version of the 1930’s propaganda film Reefer Madness.” The videos are just a part of the response being coordinated by the West coast based firm Labor Relations Solutions, hired by Landmark Theatres to help them fight against their employees unionizing efforts. "
Workers of the Uptown Theatre, Lagoon Cinema, and Edina Cinema have been joking amongst themselves recently that the quality of films being shown at the three theatres is declining. Last weekend, employees of the Landmark-owned movie theatres were required to view anti-union videos, described by Uptown Theatre employee Eric Steil as “a union version of the 1930’s propaganda film Reefer Madness.” The videos are just a part of the response being coordinated by the West coast based firm Labor Relations Solutions, hired by Landmark Theatres to help them fight against their employees unionizing efforts.
On April 14th, workers at all three of Landmark Theatre’s Twin Cities movie theatres filed a petition for a Union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Today, the NLRB certified the petition and set May 26 as the election date. “I’m excited to vote,” said Emily Davis, an employee of the Lagoon Theatre. “I love independent film and I see this campaign as a way to help preserve it. It’s ridiculous that a company which claims to be dedicated to supporting independent artists won’t pay its employees, many of whom work there precisely because of their dedication to film, a living wage.”
Landmark Theatres is the nation’s largest art-house chain. If workers opt for UFCW representation in the coming election, the three Twin Cities theatres will be the first wall-to-wall unionized movie theatres in the country. It is for these reasons that Jake Baxter, an organizer for UFCW Local 789, believes that, “This campaign has a huge amount of national significance, both for workers and movie lovers.”
With this in mind, Landmark’s workers intend to seek support from the movie-going public throughout their organizing campaign. “We showed up for the closing movie of the International Film Festival and handed out almost 400 fliers in just half an hour,” recounted Edina Cinema worker Adam Marquardt. “The support from the people there was incredible. We love films and so do they, so there’s a bond there between us and our customers. We all want to save independent film and protect the people who promote it. That, essentially, is what this election is about.” In an effort to both build and demonstrate community support, off-duty employees will be out in front of the Uptown Theatre on weekend nights, gathering signatures and answering people’s questions about the campaign. Workers also encourage their supporters to write letters to the Landmark corporation and voice their support for the workers when they visit the theatre.
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