Neil Young Cancels Show in Support Of Strikers
• IATSE 33 Thanks Singer for Refusing to Cross Picket Line
 October 30 – Neil Young has cancelled his Los Angeles concert scheduled for tonight at the Inglewood Forum rather than cross the IASTE Local 33 picket line that has been occurring over a labor dispute at the venue. Confronted with whether to perform and have his fans cross a picket line or to cancel the show, Young chose the latter.
“We whole-heartedly thank Neil Young for taking this strong stand with our union, and for all middle-class Americans,” said IATSE 33 Business Representative James Wright. “At this time of crisis in our country’s economy, it is vital that we all stand together to help middle class families.”
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We Won't Quit Until Justice is Done!
• Fair Wages for Forum Workers!
Please tell the Forum:
We want our jobs back!
Middle Class jobs need to stay in Inglewood!
Make Your Voice Heard.
Over 120 Workers
on Sidewalk at Forum After 39 Years of Service
• Stagehands, Janitors, Building
Engineers Impacted
After more than two years of negotiating for a new
contract agreement, stagehands at the L.A. Forum were
terminated from their jobs last April. Many of
them had years of service at the facility. The janitors
had their contracts terminated in February. Last year,
the building engineers were forced to walk away from
the venue after wages were slashed.
For 39 years, since the building opened, the Forum
has been a union facility. Six years ago the Forum
was purchased by Faithful Central Bible Church. Even
after the church bought the facility, we continued
to work well with management there. We bent over backwards
to accommodate the Church.
But it wasn't enough.
Two years ago, Faithful Central Bible Church brought
in SMG, the multimillion-dollar corporate management
company, which has taken a very hard-line stance. After
forcing steep cuts of up to 35% on veteran workers
we were unable to reach an agreement. Then, earlier
this year we were terminated. Replacement workers were
waiting in the wings to take our jobs, brought in on
church busses.
Now we are fighting back. Stagehands from IATSE Local
33, janitors represented by SEIU Local 1877 and building
engineers from Operating Engineers 501 have joined
forces to try and get our jobs back at the Forum in
Inglewood.
Middle class jobs need to stay in Inglewood. The unions
feel that the Forum, by defending fair pay and treatment,
would reaffirm the values of the many union members
who are residents of the city of Inglewood.
We ask the church not to wash its hands of this dispute
but to take responsibility and a leadership role in
forging a solution. Please stop allowing SMG to bring
in replacement workers as we stand on the sidewalks.
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