Waterloo – Student stagehand workers at Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) have voted unanimously to join IATSE Local 357. These student workers will join the other stagehands and wardrobe crew at WLU who already had the benefits of representation through the IATSE. With this successful vote, the 27 workers at WLU will be able to work collectively to improve their working conditions with the strong union support providedby IATSE Local 357.
IATSE Local 357 supplies the crew, allied craftspeople and support staff within the jurisdiction of Kitchener-Waterloo, Stratford, Cambridge, and Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Their members include employees of the Stratford Festival, Centre in the Square, Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (“The Aud”), River Run Centre, and Wilfrid Laurier University, among others.
“We have been representing stagehands at Wilfrid Laurier University since 1999 and are excited to offer that same representation to student workers.” said IASTE Local 357 Business Agent Jennifer Pich. “Student workers, like all workers, deserve strong union representation and the benefits of democracy at work.”
Following the successful vote the Local will now begin the collective bargaining process to improve their working conditions. Many of the issues identified by these student workers can be easily addressed by the existing collective agreement already in place. IATSE local 357 is looking forward to a smooth and cordial bargaining process.
John Lewis, IATSE International Vice-President and Director of Canadian Affairs said, “When workers decide to come together and work collectively, they have more of a say in their workplace and are able to achieve great things.” The IATSE is the foremost union representing stagehands in North America with over 170,000 members in both Canada and the United States. “We look forward to welcoming the student workers at WLU into the IATSE family,” continued Lewis.
