IATSE Local 15 has issued the following release on organizing at the Showbox Market and Showbox Sodo Music Venues:
Seattle, WA — The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 15 (IATSE 15) is thrilled to announce that historic Seattle music venue, The Showbox, and Showbox SoDo, are now union houses. After over 2 years of organizing and bargaining, the venues first Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) has been signed and went into effect on Monday, April 14, 2025.
Representing all stagehands and technicians, this is the first nightclub to have a unionized stage crew in the Seattle area. “This moment – it’s exciting, it’s historic, and it’s a pivotal opportunity for the union to build relationships and worker power with a previously un-represented subsector of the live event industry”, says Tiffany Youngblood, Showbox House Steward & Stagehand.
“We have immense love for these venues and their community, but we recognized that many of our workers were earning wages that were below the area living wage and that we had very little say in or understanding of our working conditions. We organized because we wanted to improve conditions, increase transparency, and introduce industry-standard practices & benefits.”
Some of the big wins in this first contract include substantial wage increases, vacation pay, retirement contributions, and additional paid holidays. By choosing to join IATSE, workers also gained access to the vast safety and job-related training opportunities available through IATSE training trusts.
“IATSE Local 15 is proud to support workers exercising their rights to have a voice in their workplace. Employers think they can pay workers less because the job is ‘cool’ and the work is intermittent. But these workers also deserve a decent wage, benefits, and a safe place to work,” stated Jennifer Bacon, President of IATSE Local 15.
