(MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA) - The in-House Audio and Video Crew for the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Minnesota Timberwolves and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Minnesota Lynx at the Target Center has filed for Union recognition under the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 745.

The Crew, comprising approximately 50 Members, handles essential technical roles such as operating in-house cameras, replays, video, audio, tape operations and post-production.

After requesting voluntary Union recognition, which went unanswered by Timberwolves management, the Union formally filed for a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Election.

If successful, the Timberwolves/Lynx Crew would become Minnesota’s second in-house sports group to Unionize, following the Minnesota United Crew’s vote in September 2022.

Crew Members point to the need for reliable, inflation-adjusted wage increases as a major motivation for Unionizing.

Since the Timberwolves’ founding in 1989, In-House Workers at the Target Center have received only three wage increases.

“This group is tired of the uncertainty and sporadic raises,” IATSE Local 745 Business Representative Charlie Cushing said. “With a Union, you have a seat at the table, a voice and an enforceable contract - you’re not just beholden to management’s whim.”

One of the few wage increases in recent years occurred in 2017 when there was a previous buzz about Unionization amongst the Crew.

As a result, some Crew Members believe past wage increases were timed to ward off Union efforts.

Along with wage security, Workers are also seeking benefits such as minimum guaranteed call hours and health and retirement benefits.

Past attempts at Unionization were met with a full-court press from Timberwolves management.

During a 2016 Unionization push, Timberwolves leadership asserted Crew Members were not in fact employees of the organization but were independent contractors - who do not have the right to Unionize under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

After the NLRB determined this was not the case, Workers were re-classified in 2022 as Employees of Minnesota Timberwolves Basketball.

To Continue Reading This Organizing Labor News Story, Go To: Minnesota Timberwolves/Lynx In-House Crew Files to Unionize with IATSE Local 745 - IATSE