(SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA) - In a decisive victory for Workers employed at one of the West Coast’s premier convention venues, 12 IT Technicians and Event Coordinators employed by Smart City Networks at the San Diego Convention Center have voted to join International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 122.

The election resulted in a vote of 10 in favor and two opposed.

With this organizing victory, Smart City Networks becomes the last in-house employer at the facility to be Unionized, completing a fully-Unionized Convention Center floor.

The newly-formed Bargaining Unit covers Workers across four classifications: Technician I, Technician II, Event Coordinators and Customer Service Representatives.

These Workers are responsible for designing, deploying and maintaining the high-speed internet infrastructure, Wi-Fi networks and event technology systems that serve the thousands of planners, exhibitors and attendees who pass through the San Diego Convention Center each year for events - including the San Diego Comic-Con, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and the ESRI User Conference, among many others.

Smart City Networks is a national company operating in 25 Convention Centers across the United States, delivering high-speed internet, Wi-Fi and cutting-edge event technology to trade shows and exhibitions nationwide.

Their Workers are the backbone of that operation, ensuring seamless connectivity and expert support for Planners, Exhibitors, and Attendees at every event.

In the lead-up to the Union vote, Smart City Networks retained the Union-Avoidance Law Firm Littler Mendelson, spending an estimated $58,000 on an Anti-Union consultant in an effort to discourage organizing.

Ultimately, the Workers held firm, rejected the employer’s campaign and delivered an overwhelming mandate for representation

“At the end of the day, everyone deserves to have a Union,” IATSE Local 122 President Greg Sowizdrzal said. “We’re proud that the workers at Smart City took their first step in having a voice on the job and having representation.”

In a statement, the Smart City Crew Members expressed what this victory means to them: “To us, having a Union means having a voice. It means being united and being able to stand on equal footing with the company. It has shown us the importance of solidarity and we look forward to taking an active role in the decisions that will impact our future.”

IATSE representing over 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: Smart City Networks Workers at the San Diego Convention Center Vote to Join IATSE Local 122 - IATSE