Philadelphia stagehands union to strike against Walnut Street Theatre

The Philadelphia Stagehands Union Local 8 will go on strike against the Walnut Street Theatre, which stagehand officials allege discriminated against two of its now-terminated members.

The 750-member Local 8 at 5 p.m. on Wednesday will go on strike after the theater company allegedly terminated two stagehand members over the Labor Day weekend, according to a release issued Wednesday by the union.

Jacob Goddard, a stagehand member with the communication disorder aphasia, was fired by a supervisor upon discovery of Goddard's disability, according to officials of International Alliance of Theatrical & Stage Employees, or IATSE.

Goddard was allegedly terminated without accommodation or conversation, according to IATSE, which said attempts made to "engage Walnut Street Theater management in reasonable dialogue over the matter were rebuffed."

IATSE officials filed a Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint, according to the release.

Walnut Street Theatre then allegedly fired stagehand Cornelius DeGroot after he requested for his Weingarten Rights and asked for a union representative, according to IATSE officials.

Established in 1975, Weingarten rights guarantee an employee the right to union representation during an investigatory interview.

IATSE has filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against the Walnut Street Theatre, according to the release.

Walnut Street Theatre officials did not immediately return a request for comment.

 

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal