Boston’s stagehands union launches fundraising drive for unemployed live events workers
IATSE Local 11 seeks community support for unemployed members as federal benefits remain at a stand still.
Boston, MA – Boston’s stagehands union, IATSE Local 11, launched an official GoFundMe fundraising campaign on behalf of 900 stagehands – or 99 percent of its membership – who remain unemployed due to COVID-19 live event cancellations.
The campaign aims to ease the financial burden that hundreds of these local families are enduring through no fault of their own.
“There is nothing my members want more than to get back to work putting on the events that our community loves, but until we can do that safely, these workers and families need help,” said IATSE Local 11 Business Manager Colleen Glynn in a statement.
“IATSE Local 11 is committed to supporting our members’ security and wellbeing in any capacity we can. We hope that our neighbors and friends of live events will consider contributing to this important cause.”
IATSE Local 11 – which has had close to zero revenue since March 13 – is seeking support from the community to support its members through the longest work stoppage in the union’s 130 year history.
The fundraising drive was deemed necessary after a months-long delay on support from the federal government, during which millions of families across the nation, including hundreds of unemployed Local 11 members, were left struggling to get by on a fraction of their typical income.
IATSE Local 11 and allies joined together multiple times in recent months to lobby Congress for relief for the devastated live events industry.
Actions included an “empty event“ set up in Copley Square and a rally in front of the Boch Center Wang Theatre, as well as a nationwide initiative to light up monuments and entertainment venues in red lights to symbolize the industry on red alert.
The overwhelming majority of IATSE Local 11 members have been out of work since March 13, and with no end in site.
All fundraiser donations will go directly to supporting IATSE Local 11 families in need during the longest work stoppage in IATSE history. Click here to make a contribution at the official IATSE Local 11 GoFundMe campaign page.
About IATSE Local 11:
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 11 has been raising the standards of the Live Events & Entertainment production industry since 1893.
We represent the skilled men and women who work behind the scenes in the live events entertainment industry every day, specializing in stage rigging, theatrical set construction, and the installation and operation of video, lighting, and sound systems in virtually any type of venue.
We prioritize industry-leading training for each member and fight for fair working conditions, pay and benefits for all live event industry workers.