The Latest News

	Local 4400	1482 Bathurst Street, Suite 200, Toronto ON M5P 3H1
	Canadian Union of Public Employees	TEL: (416) 393-0440 FAX: (416) 393-0456

February 23, 2005

Blue Man Group Productions
599 Broadway, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10012

Dear Sir/Madam:

Re: Toronto Blue Man Group Casting

We understand that Blue Man Group is currently casting in Toronto for a June, 2005 production at the New Yorker Theatre. It appears to be an exciting and stimulating theatrical event, However, we note with disappointment, that Blue Man Group has refused to bargain contracts with the theatrical associations and unions who represent professional performers, directors, technicians, etc. in Toronto.

We are writing to express our concern about your unwillingness to respect the hard-won rights of Canadian artists to establish fair compensation and working conditions. We are advised by Equity, IATSE and TMA that Blue Man Productions refuses to negotiate fair wages and working conditions with Toronto theatrical unions and associations. We urge you to reconsider this decision.

Local 4400 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, is comprised of more than 12000 members, representing all employees of the public school system in Toronto other than teachers. We are only too aware, as public employees, of the unjust and often hazardous working conditions under which many non-union employees must work We urge you to deal fairly with our community's artists and technicians.

If Blue Man Group fails to enter into the appropriate agreements with the Toronto community, Local 4400 will he forced to advise our members to boycott your production in June, 2005, and encourage other CUPE members and labour unions in the Toronto area to also boycott your production.

This will be most unfortunate since it sounds like a very exciting theatrical event.

/rb
Ref: Blue Man Group Feb 23-05

www.cupe4400.org

View/Download a .pdf version of the original CUPE Local 4400 letter