After more than two years, the techs, represented by IATSE Local 8, finally have a contract

PHILADELPHIA — Audio-Visual techs who work in hotels around Philadelphia overwhelmingly ratified their new contract with PSAV this week. The contract comes after more than two years of negotiations between the company and the employees, who voted to join IATSE Local 8 in February 2017.

The deal brings the workers significant pay increases, standardized scheduling, and improved working conditions. It also reshapes the relationship between PSAV, a company that has fervently opposed unionization of its full-time staff, and its employees, who stuck together and held strong throughout the extended negotiation.

“The Audio-Visual workers in the hotel industry are a highly trained group of individuals who provide their clients professional service,” said Michael Barnes, President of IATSE Local 8. “These men and women are required to provide the best service in the hotel industry and deserve to be treated with respect. This contract is an important first step to ensuring all A/V technicians working in the hotels are given a voice to create a workplace that includes quality of life scheduling and compensation to support their families.”

The IATSE has a national agreement with PSAV to cover casual and part-time technicians, although not every city has signed on. This agreement represents the first time that full-time technicians at PSAV have successfully negotiated a contract, and gives important momentum to organizing drives at PSAV venues in other cities.

Full-time technicians in Seattle and Toronto have both voted to join the IATSE, but have not yet been able to secure a contract. Additionally, riggers for PSAV in Washington, DC also voted to unionize recently and have begun negotiating for a contract.