The City of Toronto's budget crisis has hit the stage. Future shows may be in jeopardy at The St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, a city owned facility where workers were locked out a minute after midnight, Saturday.
The not for profit theatre and entertainment facility puts on affordable performances for the public. Unionized stage workers have been without a contract since the end of 2010 and after negotiations failed, they were legally locked out.
Shows at the popular theatre on Front St., just east of Yonge St. are now in jeopardy. According to the theatre’s website the next show, Mamaloshen is scheduled for September 17.
“I am a practicing artist,” city councillor Gary Crawford told the Star after the lockout. “I am a painter, a visual artist by profession and a musician. I support the arts. But as a city councillor and a board member (of the centre) I am very much in support of management on this decision. It’s crucial for the long-term viability.”
Crawford says the key issue is the size of the union, IATSE local 58 (International Alliance Theatrical Stage Employees), which he believes ties the theatre to too many crew members. Crawford says that because the facility is rented out to independent theatre groups, many cannot afford to book the facility because of the excessive number of stage staff the union attaches to each booking.
“You have some shows that only need two or three stage crew, instead of the number the union hires.”
The theatre is booked for an average of 35 weeks a year even though the previous contract guaranteed union staff would be paid for 42 to 47 weeks.
IATSE 58 could not be reached.
Crawford admits the incentive to cut costs is part of the overall climate at city hall, but he insisted that at the theatre cuts could come while actually improving service.
“If we kept costs down more theatre groups could afford the facility.” He says the much needed cost cutting dovetails with the city’s goals across the board. “We’re looking at everything. All the boards and agencies have been asked to look at their costs and how they’re running things.”
“Of course there is an element to what is happening across the city and what’s happening with the theatre. We do not want to cut this out.”
Origin
Source: Toronto Star
The not for profit theatre and entertainment facility puts on affordable performances for the public. Unionized stage workers have been without a contract since the end of 2010 and after negotiations failed, they were legally locked out.
Shows at the popular theatre on Front St., just east of Yonge St. are now in jeopardy. According to the theatre’s website the next show, Mamaloshen is scheduled for September 17.
“I am a practicing artist,” city councillor Gary Crawford told the Star after the lockout. “I am a painter, a visual artist by profession and a musician. I support the arts. But as a city councillor and a board member (of the centre) I am very much in support of management on this decision. It’s crucial for the long-term viability.”
Crawford says the key issue is the size of the union, IATSE local 58 (International Alliance Theatrical Stage Employees), which he believes ties the theatre to too many crew members. Crawford says that because the facility is rented out to independent theatre groups, many cannot afford to book the facility because of the excessive number of stage staff the union attaches to each booking.
“You have some shows that only need two or three stage crew, instead of the number the union hires.”
The theatre is booked for an average of 35 weeks a year even though the previous contract guaranteed union staff would be paid for 42 to 47 weeks.
IATSE 58 could not be reached.
Crawford admits the incentive to cut costs is part of the overall climate at city hall, but he insisted that at the theatre cuts could come while actually improving service.
“If we kept costs down more theatre groups could afford the facility.” He says the much needed cost cutting dovetails with the city’s goals across the board. “We’re looking at everything. All the boards and agencies have been asked to look at their costs and how they’re running things.”
“Of course there is an element to what is happening across the city and what’s happening with the theatre. We do not want to cut this out.”
Origin
Source: Toronto Star
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