Oct. 22--Stagehands once employed at the Riviera Theatre say they were fired by Jam Productions for trying to unionize.
The stagehands said they were coming close to a vote on joining Stagehands Local 2, an affiliate of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States and Canada, when they were fired, the group said in a statement Thursday. The fired workers were all employed by the Riviera, which is run by 40-year-old Jam Productions. Jam also operates the Park West and The Vic Theatre.
"In a profanity-laced tirade, Jam's co-owner Jerry Mickelson told legendary stage production manager Jolly Roger that he and his crew were terminated," according to the stagehands' statement.
"Some of the fellas approached the union ... about representation," Roger said. "Next thing I know, I get a phone call saying we're fired. I've been with the company 30 years, it definitely blindsided me," he said.
Mickelson was not available for comment.
The workers have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, according to attorney David Huffman-Gottschling. "We think their terminations were unlawful and expect the Labor Board will have them reinstated to their positions," Huffman-Gottschling said.
crshropshire@tribpub.com
