Stagehands Finished 12 Hours of Talks with Producers, More Set

by Mike Hall, Nov 26, 2007

Back at the negotiating table this week, IATSE also is mourning the loss of member Francis Lavaia, who died of a heart attack on the picket line.

Contract talks between the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 1 and Broadway producers resumed yesterday and are expected to continue later today. The IATSE Local 1 members were forced out on strike Nov. 10, leaving most of Broadway’s stages dark.

The negotiations are the first face-to-face meetings since Nov. 18, when the employers walked out of the talks. This morning, IATSE Local 1 spokesman Bruce Cohen told reporters that progress had been made during the nearly 12 hours of negotiations that went through the night.

Theater owners and producers are demanding a 38 percent cut in jobs and wages, according to IATSE. About a quarter of the 2,200 members of Local 1, who build scenery, maintain props and install and operate lighting and sound equipment, work in Broadway theaters. The billion-dollar-a-year Broadway theater industry is seeing record profits, and any cuts in jobs and wages will not result in lower ticket prices, according to the union—just bigger profits for producers.

Entertainment unions are strongly backing IATSE members, including Actors’ Equity, American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) Local 802 and the New York City Central Labor Council (NYCLC).

For a closer look at the life of a Broadway stagehand, see this Associated Press story on IATSE Local 1 member and activist John Kelly. Kelly, now a “deck” electrician, began his Broadway career 17 years ago as Tinkerbell—he operated the beam of light that flies and flickers around Peter Pan, Wendy and the Lost Boys.

There is a sad note to report. Francis Lavaia, 57, a stagehand who worked on “The Lion King,” suffered a fatal heart attack Nov. 16, while he was picketing at one of the Broadway theaters. In his honor, Local 1 members donned black armbands. Kenny McDough, the head carpenter at the Booth Theatre, told NY1 TV News:

Frank Lavaia was one of the most loved stagehands, one of the most talented. He was just like a father figure to all the people. I knew him for over 20 years, and I loved him to death.

Kathleen Spock, an usher at the Schoenfeld Theatre, added:

Everybody’s gonna remember him. He would do whatever he could for you any time, anywhere. He’s a good friend for everyone to have.

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