TORONTO, ON – On November 23, audio-visual technicians at the Artscape Wychwood Barns voted unanimously to be represented by IATSE Local 58. The technicians began speaking with Local 58 in February of 2018 about the possibility of representation. On November 16, an application for certification was filed with the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

Though there was some dispute over the bargaining unit, the Labour Board ruled that the unit would consist of all audio visual technicians employed at the venue. The vote was held on November 23 and the subsequent count revealed unanimous support for union representation. The certificate was granted on December 3.

Owned by the City of Toronto and operated by Artscape since 2008, the Wychwood Barns were built between 1913 and 1921 for the Toronto Civic Railway and later, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and are a beautiful example of twentieth-century industrial architecture.  The Barns are now a community cultural hub that includes spaces for 26 artist live/work studios, 15 artist work studios, 9 non-profit arts and environmental organizations and a 7,680 square-foot event venue.

Wychwood Barns is the third Artscape venue to be certified by IATSE Local 58; the first two being the Daniels Spectrum and the Artscape Sandbox. Bargaining is scheduled to begin soon, and the AV technicians are looking forward to working under their first collective agreement.