MTS Centre Union Dispute

A group of unionized stagehands picketed a Winnipeg, Manitoba, fire station to protest off-duty firefighters moonlighting at the city’s MTS Centre as concert riggers.

Members of International Alliance of Theatre Stage Employees Local 63 say the firefighters are taking jobs away from them, according to the Winnipeg Sun.

“They get trained as high-steel riggers with the fire department, then go to MTS Centre to utilize those skills,” IATSE spokesman Barny Haines told the paper.

IATSE lost its contract bid for the MTS Centre in 2004 when labor talks broke down and venue officials opted to hire a non-union company out of British Columbia.

The union protest reportedly coincided with a July 14th Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young concert at the arena, the Sun said.