Dear ATPAM Member:

This is a first in what will be a series of regular reports and updates to the Membership as the Union prepares for and conducts negotiations with the League of American Theatres and Producers later this year.

I would like to take this opportunity to report to you on my participation as the ATPAM representative at the recent IATSE General Executive Board Meeting in Savannah, Georgia. The IATSE holds these meetings several times during the year in various cities where the International and its local unions have business pending. The International and its local unions make reports to the Executive Board about various topics. These reports are often summarized in the IATSE quarterly bulletin, which is mailed to every member in good standing.

As you know, ATPAM was instrumental in the formation of the IATSE Broadway Council, a consortium of seven IATSE unions whose members work on Broadway. As a group those unions gave a report to the General Executive Board on our successful group effort to organize the newly renovated Biltmore Theatre, operated by the Manhattan Theatre Club. Our report was given by Tony DePaulo, Chairman of the Council.  Tony is also both Theatre Business Agent for Stagehands Local 1 in New York and a Vice President of the IATSE.  Representatives of each local joined Tony at the presentation table. Our report was noted as a “report of progress” by International President Short, who complimented the group on working closely together to help each other achieve an agreement with MTC.

I have attached a copy of the report to this letter. It is fairly brief and I urge you to take the time to read it.  I think you will find it both informative and encouraging in terms of ATPAM’s future relationship with our fellow union members on Broadway. ATPAM has worked very hard for several years to develop relationships and form a bond with the other unions and guilds in our industry. Those efforts have begun to pay off.  That will become increasingly apparent when our League negotiations get underway and we possibly encounter some “push back” from the employers at the table.

ATPAM is now a fully integrated member of the IATSE family of local unions and has solidified our community of interest with those unions and the International itself. So, the next time someone snidely asks you if the IATSE, the Stagehands, and the other craft unions will support ATPAM, you now know the answer. It is a loud and resounding YES!  They understand it is in their own long-term interest to do so. As a result, this Union is in a better position to represent the membership than it has been in many, many years.

We look forward to negotiating fair and equitable successor agreements to the MBA (Managers) and MOA (Press Agents) and doing so in a productive and timely manner. The Advisory Committee to the negotiating team is preparing to solicit member input in the formation of the Union’s proposals.  I hope you will participate in that process as we focus in and drill down on the issues of most importance to the whole Membership.

Fraternally,

Gordon G. Forbes
Secretary-Treasurer

MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB
BILTMORE THEATRE
REPORT TO THE GENERAL EXECUTIVE BOARD
SAVANNAH, GA

FEBRUARY 2-9, 2004

President Short, General Secretary-Treasurer Wood, Members of the General Executive Board:

This is a report about the Manhattan Theatre Club, which took over a Broadway theatre, formerly owned by the Nederlander Corporation, and was closed and abandoned for over 15 years.

But I would like to begin by telling the Board about the IATSE Broadway Council. The IATSE Broadway Council is made up of seven IATSE Unions whose members work in the Broadway theatres. It was formed after September 11, 2001, when the producers of the Broadway shows requested the various unions take cuts in order to keep their productions open.  As you all remember, President Short took the lead, as always, and a number of productions were able to keep running when other unions and Guilds followed the lead of I.A.T.S.E.  Once that crisis passed, we agreed to continue meeting on a monthly basis, to share information on negotiations, grievances and other common concerns.  This has helped us track what is happening on Broadway, both in the various unions and in dealing with the League and other producers.

The IA Broadway Council decided early on that whenever new employers came into our jurisdiction we would be sure to work in unison to bring them under the IATSE banner.  When we heard that the Biltmore Theatre, formerly a union house under Broadway’s League contract, was going to reopen under the Manhattan Theatre Club, we were determined the theatre would not open non-union.

The Manhattan Theatre Club, a not for profit production company, was housed in the basement of City Center.  Theirs is a largely subscription audience.  They put on three or four productions per year in their approximately 299-seat theatre.  IA locals USA 829 and ATPAM were represented there, along with limited representation of Local One.  They were going mainstream, and although they didn’t know it at the time, we were going with them.

The Biltmore had previously been a Broadway house containing 900+ seats.  After extensive renovations, the new plans called for about 650 seats.  Their shows would be Tony-eligible, and carry Broadway ticket prices.  We agreed to band together to ensure that every IA local on Broadway would have a contract before they opened their doors.

Each local conducted its own negotiations with MTC, bringing its own issues and concerns to the table. Each of us has our own contract. But the one thing that was made clear to Management from the beginning was that even as locals reached a tentative agreement, the Manhattan Theatre Club did not have a deal with any of us until they had a deal with all of us.  Clearly, some of the Locals would have a very difficult time even getting a meeting with MTC management on their own.  We really did show our strength by sticking together.

After many months of sometimes tense negotiations, each of the seven locals had a final deal.  USA Local 829, Local One, Local 764, Local 751, ATPAM local 18032, and Local 306 all negotiated and ratified a contract.  It would take too long to give the details of each contract.  All of the unions made some concessions due to the size of the theater.  Wages and benefits ranged about 75%-80% of Broadway rates.

The successful conclusion of the Biltmore deal solidified the already cordial relationships between the locals who share a community of interest on Broadway.  We look forward to continue into the future to insure that all of the IA Locals are represented as new venues open in New York.

Respectfully,

Tony DePaulo, Local 1 Stagehands/Chairman IATSE Broadway Council
Susan Martin, L306 Ushers, Ticket Takers, Stage Doormen
Gene McElwain, L751 Treasurers and Ticket Sellers
Pat White, L764 Wardrobe
Ray Polgar, L798 Hair and Makeup
Michael McBride, USA 829 United Scenic Artists
Gordon G. Forbes, ATPAM 18032 Press Agents & Managers