Several dozen union members and supporters were picketing the Fiserv Forum grand opening Aug. 26NBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The Milwaukee chapter of the Int'l Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees said that it has "attempted to discuss work" for its union members at Fiserv Forum, but "hasn't had much success" in talks with the Bucks, according to James Nelson of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. Members of the IATSE union were "not hired for work" at the Bucks' previous home, BMO Bradley Harris Center, "nor have they been offered assignments" at the new venue. Local IATSE Business Manager Tom Gergerich said, "We've been face-to-face a few times, but I wouldn't call them discussions." The dispute has led to "picketing by union members and supporters, including a large showing of several dozen people at the Fiserv Forum grand opening Aug. 26." The union has "displayed a large inflatable rat at several of its arena protests." The Bucks said that the decision to "use non-union stagehands is a matter of economics." The team has "agreed to pay a starting wage of $12.50 an hour for arena workers and promised that the pay would bump up to $15 within a few years." Gergerich said that union workers "doing the same work" would be paid a little more than $20/hour. Bucks President Peter Feigin said that the team is "paying arena workers fairly and isn't pleased with the union's actions." Feigin said, "This has been exceedingly aggressive. I think everyone chooses their tactics. This is not the way that we like to do business" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 9/6).
