IA 33 Stagehands Need Your Help!

Stagehands, Janitors, Building Engineers Locked Out, Fired at LA Forum
Faithful Central Bible Church, the Forum’s Owner, Won't Meet with Local 33

After more than two years of negotiations, Faithful Central Bible Church’s bargaining agent forced steep cuts on Forum workers. Wages were cut more than 30 percent. Workable hours were also slashed.

Not content, management then locked veteran stagehands out of their jobs. These men and women, members of IA 33 eager to return to work, stand on the sidewalk as replacement workers are brought in on church buses. In spite of its direct involvement, the Church has tried to wash its hands of the dispute and other unions, including Operating Engineers 501 and SEIU 1877. Bishop Ulmer has yet to meet with any workers or their unions.

Local 33, Operating Engineers 501 and SEIU 1877 are asking the entertainment, labor and religious communities to fax a letter to Faithful Central Bible Church, urging a just resolution to this dispute.

Support your union brothers and sisters today!



Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: In solidarity with IATSE Local 33

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a proud union member and Los Angeles area resident, I am deeply concerned about the anti-worker stance taken by Faithful Central Bible Church. I am writing to you to ask the Church to do the morally right thing, meet with IATSE Local 33, Operating Engineers 501 and SEIU 1877 to continue the high-level of professionalism that has been the hallmark of the Forum for many years.

Local 33 members continued to work at the Forum when your agent imposed massive wage and working hour reductions. Now, they stand on the sidewalks as replacement workers are brought in on church buses. Locked out of their jobs, they repeatedly requested a meeting with the Church. Yet their pleas go unanswered.

Please meet with these workers and their unions. Otherwise, you cast a long shadow on the Church's commitment to the larger Los Angeles community as a whole and to working men and women in particular. In the meantime, the union and supporters like me will continue to reach out to others of influence, including religious, entertainment, political and labor leaders, and to your congregation directly.

In solidarity,

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 05, 2006


Background Information

Faithful Central Bible Church - the new owners of the Los Angeles Forum - are refusing to meet with IATSE Local 33 or any of the unions representing their workers. Instead, church buses continue to bring in replacement workers as veteran stagehands, locked out since mid-April, stand on the sidewalks. 

Local 33, Teamsters 42 and SEIU 1877 are asking for a meeting, in the hopes Faithful Central Bible Church can help resolve the dispute. Their refusal to meet with our union brothers and sisters calls into question the Church's commitment to the Los Angeles community as whole and for working men and women everywhere.