ST. CATHARINES, ON, February 22 – On June 6th of 2011, the Ontario Labour Relations Board certified IATSE Local 461 as the collective bargaining agent to represent stagehands at Brock University.  The certification covers Brock University’s Centre for the Arts, which includes two venues: the 533-seat Sean O’Sullivan Theatre and the 500-seat David S. Howes Theatre.

Negotiations between the parties began in late summer and were concluded just prior to the strike deadline of midnight, February 16th.  The local secured a number of provisions in the three-year agreement, including protection from contracting out for full-time and seasonal staff, a guarantee of health and retirement contributions, an overtime structure, one guaranteed day off in every seven-day period, layoff and recall provisions and contributions toward the International training fund.