Photo: Dustin Slaughter
Update: Statement on the resolution of stagehands’ strike at Philadelphia Theatre Company from IATSE President Michael Barnes:
Barnes noted that the new contract for stagehands for the PTC is the first contract Local 8 has settled for a theater of this size. The contract has strong language that protects the jobs, maintains and improves conditions that now include overtime after 8 hours in a day and holidays and double time for overnight work. The contract also contains health and retirement contributions for every worker and increases the wages of the workers each year of the agreement.
Local 8’s statement adds that with what they perceive as a significant victory, they plan to expand their campaign to other local theaters.
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IATSE Local 8 stagehands and the Philadelphia Theatre Company have reportedly reached an agreement, according to a PTC press release sent out this afternoon, ending the 18-day strike.
Stagehands began striking on January 15th, 2013, and continued through “The Mountaintop” premier the following Friday, when Local 8 and PTC workers held a press conference.
The Declaration‘s coverage of this can be found here.
PTC’s statement:
During several lengthy meetings all afternoon and last evening, the union made significant movement to come closer to the terms which, although consistent with what PTC had originally proposed, had previously been rejected by the union,” said PTC’s Producing Artistic Director Sara Garonzik. “We have negotiated a settlement that is reasonable for PTC and appropriate to our size.
PTC’s press release contained no specifics on the deal and Local 8 press contact Frank Keel could not be immediately reached for comment. We will update this story as details become available.
The Philly Declaration 
