By Surly

On a frigid Valentine’s morning, IATSE Locals 12 and 747, stagehands were found on the picket line outside of Mershon Auditorium on the campus of Ohio State University, having been locked out in a de facto manner by OSU less than 48 hours earlier. After having fully filled the call for Paw Patrol Live! in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between IATSE and OSU.

Due to unresolved issues with the OSU on-boarding system, OSU and IATSE, have been operating on agreement whereby stagehands who are directly employed by the IATSE hiring hall and paid by Theatrical Payroll Service of Central Ohio, may fill any call positions not filled by stagehands directly employed by OSU. This agreement has been in affect since at least 2023.

On Wednesday February 12, OSU gave notice to modify the CBA between the parties. Well outside of the 60 day guideline to provide notice of intention to modify prescribed by the Ohio Revised Code and the State Employee Relations Board (SERB).

Further against the CBA, OSU proceeded to employ the Cincinnati based third-party vendor, Bad Ass Stagehands (B.A.S.H.) to cross the picket line to fill the call. Leaving 38 stagehands having been booked and scheduled for Paw Patrol Live! leaving IATSE stagehands unpaid and de facto locked out in the frigid Ohio weather.

The actions seem to be a clear attempt at escalation and retaliation against IATSE for the vote to organize the Schottenstein Center, which closed the day prior on February 11. Proper notice to modify or otherwise change the CBA was not given! OSU did not respond to any questions or proposed solutions presented by IATSE! The call had been filled and IATSE stagehands had booked and arranged their schedules around the event!

This decision was made arbitrarily and capriciously to financially harm the same stagehands that have been presenting entertainment to the citizens of Central Ohio at the Mershon Auditorium for the better part of the last 50 years because they dare organize.