(SEATTLE, WASHINGTON) - The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 15 has announced the historic Seattle music venue - The Showbox, and Showbox SoDo are now Union Houses.  And, after more than two years of organizing and bargaining, the venues first contract has been ratified and went into effect on April 14th.

Representing all Stagehands and technicians, this is the first nightclub to have a Unionized Stage Crew in the Seattle area, IATSE said.

“This moment - it’s exciting, it’s historic and it’s a pivotal opportunity for the Union to build relationships and ‘Worker Power’ with a previously unrepresented sub-sector of the Live Event Industry,” Showbox House Steward and Stagehand Tiffany Youngblood said. “We have immense love for these venues and their community, but we recognized that many of our Workers were earning wages that were below the area living wage and that we had very little say in or understanding of our working conditions. We organized because we wanted to improve conditions, increase transparency, and introduce industry-standard practices and benefits.”

Some of the big wins in this first contract include substantial wage increases, vacation pay, retirement contributions and additional paid holidays.

By choosing to join IATSE, the Workers also gained access to the vast safety and job-related training opportunities available through IATSE Training Trusts.

“IATSE is proud to support Workers exercising their rights to have a voice in their workplace. Employers think they can pay Workers less because the job is ‘cool’ and the work is intermittent. But these Workers also deserve a decent wage, benefits, and a safe place to work,” IATSE Local 15 President Jennifer Bacon said.

IATSE represents more than 170,000 Technicians, Artisans and Craftspersons in the Entertainment Industry, including live events, motion picture and television production, broadcast and trade shows in the United States and Canada.

To Directly Access This Organizing Labor News Story, Go To: Showbox Market and Showbox SoDo Stage Crew Join IATSE Local 15, Ratify Union Contract - IATSE