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.”

Young and his wife Pegi are honorary members of IATSE. Young showed solidarity for workers in the song "Union Man," from his 1980 album "Hawks & Doves."

"I am extremely disappointed to have to choose between satisfying my fans or backing my brothers and sisters of the IATSE," Young said in a statement issued Wednesday night from San Diego, where he was performing. "I will miss playing in Los Angeles and apologize to my fans for the inconvenience this has caused.”

“Neil Young has taken a very courageous stand on this issue,” added Local 33 Business Rep Peter Marley. “We reach out to other artists scheduled to play at the Forum in the coming months – who will also have to cross our picket line – to follow his lead.”

The IATSE picket action is part of a two-and-a-half-year fight with the Forum’s owners, Faithful Central Bible Church, over using union labor for live shows at the venue.

For 39 years, since the building opened, the Forum was a union facility. But after the Forum was purchased by Faithful Central Bible Church six years ago, things began to change. They brought in SMG, the multimillion-dollar corporate management company, which has taken a very hard-line stance against union labor. Union workers at the facility were asked to take pay cuts of up 35%, but even with these drastic measures, no contract agreement could be reached. When union workers were terminated from the facility, replacement workers were waiting in the wings, brought in on church busses.

The Stagehands union decided to fight back by picketing Forum events, saying middle class jobs need to stay in Inglewood. By defending fair pay and treatment for its workers, the union says, Forum would be reaffirming the values of the many union members who are residents of the city of Inglewood.