Stagehands (IATSE 114) Win 50% Increase in Compensation in New Contract with Cross Insurance Arena

Members of IATSE Local 114 recently ratified a new contract with the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland that increases their compensation package by 50 percent over the course of the contract. The contract will provide a significant raise to the union’s lowest paid workers.

“I am very pleased with the results of negotiations,” said IATSE 114 President John York. “We have taken a large step toward getting all our workers good pay for what we do. We have a great relationship with the building management and we all have a mutual respect for each other.”

The Stagehands are receiving a 22 percent wage raise in year one, followed by an additional 15 percent raise starting in July, 2024 and another 5 percent pay boost in year three. In addition, the contract provides 1 percent each year and another 2 percent increase in year three for their benefits contributions.

Devon Medeiros, Business Agent for IATSE 114, said when the union negotiated its last contract in 2021, live events were just coming back after being shut down due to the pandemic so there was a lot of uncertainty. As a result, the pay gap widened for lower paid members and lagged behind what Oak View Group was paying at its other venues and what Local 114 pays through its payroll service for work where they don’t have collective bargaining agreements.

“We really needed those increases,” said Medeiros. “The company recognized the value that we provide and they understood that for whatever reason we had fallen behind. Their initial offerings were pretty generous so we were able to work from there.”

The contract also includes improvements to workplace safety and more covered work. Medeiros says he hopes to next begin negotiating with the city-owned Merrill Auditorium.

“We are eager to sit down with the city to bargain,” he said. “We have been working without a contract for a while now and we’d like to remedy that.”