BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — A theatrical union is taking action to condemn an event organizer for allegedly not hiring local stagehands.
The Iowa-based International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 85 and Local 193 of Central Illinois have been impacted by USA Concerts and Events, the organizers of Tailgate N’ Tallboys in Bloomington and Clinton, Iowa, for allegedly not hiring local stagehands for their events, according to a union news release.
USA Concerts and Events allegedly signed a Collective Bargaining Agreement with Local 85 in 2023. Local 193 had covered the festival operation for Tailgate N’ Tallboys in Illinois for almost a decade.
“After almost ten years of IATSE Local 193 members serving as the dedicated workforce for Tailgate N’ Tallboys, organizers want to abandon the workers and community that made it into the large and successful event it is today in favor of an out-of-state labor company. It’s extremely disheartening,” said IATSE Local 193 Business Agent Michael Irvin.
The union claims that USA Concerts and Events bypassed union crews in favor of an out-of-state, non-union labor provider for their Clinton event. They said this undermines a Collective Bargaining Agreement that contains an Evergreen clause, which automatically renews the deal unless terminated by written notice.
USA Concerts and Events also allegedly refused to hire area IATSE workers from Local 193 for the Tailgate N’ Tallboys event in Bloomington, according to the news release.
The unions issued a formal notice to USA Concerts and Events and said they are pursuing other legal options.
We have reached out to USA Concerts and Events for comments on this issue and still await a response.
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