Carnegie Vs. IATSE

The concert hall says future performances remain on the schedule, while the orchestra announced it would instead perform a free “pop up” concert instead at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center.

Carnegie Hall and IATSE have been in contract talks since mid-2012, but have hung up on the union’s demand for jurisdiction over the Education Wing that’s to open next year.

The hall claims that it would divert funds from its music education programs and into stagehand fees.

Carnegie Hall execs apparently decided to take a stand against the stagehands of Local 1, according to the New York Times.

Carnegie allegedly has said enough is enough. The paper noted that stagehands have an average total compensation of more than $400,000 a year, which is more than some of the hall’s top executives.

“We are disappointed that, despite the fact that the stagehands have one of the most lucrative contracts in the industry, they are now seeking to expand their jurisdiction beyond the concert hall and into the new education wing in ways that would compromise Carnegie Hall’s education mission,” the venue’s executive director, Clive Gillinson, told the Times. “There is no precedent for this anywhere in New York City.”

James Claffey Jr., president of Local 1, said negotiations have been ongoing for a year.

“Carnegie Hall Corporation has spent or will spend $230 million on its ongoing studio tower renovation, but they have chosen not to appropriately employ our members as we are similarly employed throughout the rest of Carnegie Hall,” Claffey said.

The education wing would have 24 music rooms and executives claim necessities can be handled by other, cheaper, stagehands, adding that accepting Local 1’s demand would “divert significant funds away from the hall’s music education programs and into stagehand fees.”

Last year’s opening night gala raised nearly $2.7 million for Carnegie, the Times said.