IATSE and Global Spectrum Sign International Agreement Covering Arena Facilities April 20, 2004
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) recently signed an international agreement with Philadelphia-based Global Spectrum, the fastest growing firm in the public assembly management field, covering work in their facilities, it was announced by International President Thomas C. Short and Global Spectrum Chairman Peter Luukko. The three-year contract was endorsed by a unanimous vote by the IATSE General Executive Board.
The premise of the deal relates to a long-standing relationship, which began with Global Spectrum on a local level at their facilities in Philadelphia – the Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum — and was carried through to their management contracts at the Liacouras Center at Temple University and the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, NJ. Many of Global Spectrum’s facilities are now under the new arrangement, including the Everett Events Center in Everett, WA; the Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, TX; and the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, CO, all of which opened this past fall.
“This is one of the most significant contracts of the last several years for the International,” President Short stated. “This contract provides consistent and equal benefit contributions for our members regardless of their geographic location.”
“This is a perfect example of management and labor working together to provide fair wages, work rules and working conditions,” said Luukko. “Our tremendous relationship with IATSE dates back to the on-going successes that we have had with (IATSE Board Member) Michael Barnes at our two Philadelphia facilities – Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum.”
“This new agreement serves as a formal outline for IATSE working relationships in various Global Spectrum facilities,” said Global Spectrum Regional Vice President John Page. “This contract will enable us to provide all of our shows, promoters, and performers the best experience when playing a Global Spectrum facility. The new arrangement also helps us streamline our discussions with the union’s top officials at all of our facilities.”
“They have proven in Philadelphia and elsewhere that management and labor can work together on a fair agreement which benefits all parties and which can bring more business to a facility and ultimately, create more business opportunities,” said Barnes who has been working with both Page and Luukko since l993. “Based on our Philadelphia results, we thought this new agreement would be great on a national scale.”
The IATSE negotiating team consisted of General Secretary-Treasurer James B. Wood, International Vice Presidents Michael Barnes, Anthony DePaulo, Brian Lawlor. Global Spectrum was represented by Page and Luukko.
Global Spectrum is part of one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment conglomerates Comcast-Spectacor, which also owns the Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum, the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association, the Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League, Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks, Comcast SportsNet, a regional sports programming network, three minor league baseball teams – the Bowie Baysox, the Delmarva Shorebirds and the Frederick Keys – all affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, and Patron Solutions, a full-service ticketing and marketing product for public assembly facilities.
