Tucson arts workers ratify first union contracts

Workers at The Loft Cinema and Arizona Theatre Company ratified their first union contracts within days of each other, while musicians at True Concord Voices and Orchestra say management still hasn't come to the bargaining table months after they unionized. On Aug. 28, unionized workers at The Loft Cinema voted to approve their first collective bargaining agreement with a contract that would support about 20 staffers, including projectionists, floor staff, and staff that oversee purchasing, events and operations. The agreement includes "wage increases, overtime conditions, paid breaks, guaranteed weekly hours, increased sick and vacation time, and just cause for termination and discipline," according to a news release. Loft workers first contacted IATSE Local 415 last February for representation, announcing their intent to unionize to the public in May 2025 via an Instagram post. "The Loft is an important cultural institution, and we are important people! Valuable in our own right, with passions, interests, relationships that matter to us and we matter to people in our community!" the post said. A month later, employees unanimously voted for Local 415 to become their bargaining representative in a National Labor Relations Board election, officially unionizing. Bargaining began shortly after and concluded more than a year later, on Aug. 19. Tucson Spotlight is free for every reader because donors make it possible. Join them. Donate today Arizona Theatre Company's production workers ratified their first union contract Aug. 31 after more than a year of collective bargaining. Topacio "Topaz" Servellon / Tucson Spotlight. One of the driving factors behind staffers' desire to unionize is the reduction in pay over the years. "Union projectionists at the Loft in the 1960s were paid $30 per hour in inflation-adjusted dollars, and somehow that same skill has been reduced to a near-minimum wage position in the modern day," Loft staffer Victor Bostick said in a press release. "With the expansion and growth of the theater, it only makes sense that the workers reap higher wages and also benefit from that success." One unnamed staffer said the victory is symbolic of the hard work that Loft employees provide and the respect they say is long overdue. "All labor is skilled and essential," the staffer said in the news release. The union thanked the Loft's new executive director, Elise Lopez, and its board for working with them. Three days later, on Aug. 31, workers at the Arizona Theatre Company also voted to approve their first bargaining agreement with a contract supporting unionized temporary workers, and around 20 full-time production workers that support the theatre's lighting, video, audio, costume and more. The new agreement includes "wage increases, increased health-care coverage, overtime conditions, paid breaks, guaranteed weekly hours and days off," according to a news release. Arizona Theatre Company workers first contacted Local 415 in January 2025, unanimously voting for IATSE to be their bargaining representative in a May 2025 National Labor Relations Board election. Bargaining began shortly after and concluded a few weeks ago, on Aug. 13. "This contract is the result of countless hours of conversation, and respects the skills and expertise that ATC production employees have always brought to the arts in Arizona," said ATC staffer Allison Gammons. "We've created stronger relationships and the whole company will benefit from our renewed spirit of cooperation, mutual encouragement, and celebration. We're beyond proud to have organized with IATSE Local 415, and we're grateful for the opportunity to strengthen the union with our membership. We are all so glad to have this contract ratified as we head into the company's 59th season." A member of True Concord Voices and Orchestra holds a sign at an April demonstration for musicians' union rights. Topacio "Topaz" Servellon / Tucson Spotlight. The agreement is the result of a "genuinely cordial and productive negotiation." "We're proud of how our teams worked together to reach it," Artistic Director Matt August and Executive Director Ana Rose O'Halloran said in a statement. "Our production staff's commitment to the long-term sustainability of Arizona Theatre Company was clear at every step, and we're glad to move forward together under this new contract." But while staffers at the Loft and ATC have found success, negotiations for protections for musicians with True Concord Voices and Orchestra have stalled. The Tucson Federation of Musicians Local 33, represented by the American Federation of Musicians Union, called for True Concord to begin contract negotiations after an official proclamation by Tucson Mayor Regina Romero last month in support of unionized musicians. Members of True Concord Voices and Orchestra officially unionized July 8 after certification by the National Labor Relations Board. The union has formally requested potential dates to negotiate an initial collective bargaining agreement with management, who the union says have not responded. The union claims that during a union vote count in the spring, True Concord's management filed a request to overturn the decision directing the election. The request was denied, resulting in an election for union representation with 84% of workers voting in favor of representation. "Arts work is still work," Tucson Federation of Musicians President Alana Wiesing said in an Instagram post. "We are dedicated to our craft and to bringing world-class music to Southern Arizona, but passion doesn't pay our bills. Securing a fair union contract ensures that artists receive the stability, respect and compensation necessary to sustain our livelihoods and our community." True Concord is ready and looking forward to reaching a "fair agreement that benefits everyone involved," Sarah Bromberg, a violinist and True Concord Voices and Orchestra member, said in the post. "We simply need management to take the next step and join us at the bargaining table," Bromberg said. Topacio 'Topaz' Servellon is a reporter with Tucson Spotlight. Contact them at topacioserve@gmail.com. Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation.