Recently chartered Local 500, South Florida, has signed a one-year contract with Off-the-Wall Sound, inc. to exclusively supply stagehand labor and other technicians for all of their events. Prior to this agreement the company had primarily used non-union contractors to supply the labor it needed for its events. Off-the-Wall Sound has been supplying sound and lighting systems for conventions, television shows, concerts and numerous other events in South Florida for almost twenty years and is considered one of the largest sound and lighting companies in the area. The company, headquartered in North Miami Beach, has just recently acquired the new state-of-the-art JBL VERTEC line array sound system.
Key to the success of the negotiations was Local 500’s ability to provide a single contract that would allow it to service the company from Fort Pierce to Key West. Previous to the chartering of Local 500 the company would have been required to negotiate with each of four different local unions. The negotiations were spearheaded by Representatives John Dermody and Lou Falzarano.