ASHLAND, OR — Forty-five front of house and access services workers at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) have overwhelmingly voted in favor of joining the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 154, the union announced Thursday. The final tally of the ballots counted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) was 28-2 in favor of the union.
This marks the sixth group of workers at OSF to unionize, following the chartering of Local 154 by the festival’s stagehands in 2016. Scenic, props, costume shop artisans, facilities/maintenance crewmembers, accounting, and box office workers previously voted to unionize in 2022, 2023, and 2024 respectively. With the addition of the front of house crew, festival workers have officially succeeded in achieving complete wall-to-wall unionization of their workplace.
The Ashland, Oregon-based OSF has an 89-year history of hosting an array of theatrical performances. As one of the most prominent festivals in North America, the OSF attracts over 400,000 attendees annually and hosts performances of classics, new and emerging works, musicals, as well as world premieres.
On the heels of the box office and group sales workers securing their election and beginning the negotiation process in August 2024, the workers in the front of house and access services departments reached out in the hopes of joining their colleagues in winning union representation. “Since the beginning, our Local sought to represent anyone and everyone in southern Oregon, and OSF is just the start,” said IATSE International Representative, Amanda Sager. “In eight years, we have almost doubled the size of the local and have wall-to-wall representation. That doesn’t happen without the dedication and solidarity each Local 154 member carries every day.”
“It is a noteworthy achievement to secure wall-to-wall representation at a preeminent festival such as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. “We represent thousands of festival staff across North America and these workers are increasingly aware that to gain respect and a seat at the table, they must organize.”
“This means job security, expectation of seasonal layoff/renewal, and securing healthcare, said Local 154 Business Agent, Breena Cope. “This was about preserving the good working conditions we have and reaching parity on other conditions.”
Front of house crews nationwide are coming together to win essential access to healthcare, retirement benefits, training, robust safety measures, mental health resources, and avenues for professional growth. If you are interested in joining the movement, head to iatse.net/join to contact an organizer.
