Blue Man Group Boycott

Mayworks

April 18, 2005

Bill Skolnik
Toronto Musicians' Association
AFM Local 149
15 Gervais Drive, Suite 500
Toronto Ontario M3C 1Y8

Dear Bill:

This letter was sent to the Blue Man Group in New York and via email to their Toronto address.

I am writing in regard to the opening of a Blue Man Group production in Toronto in June 2005. On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts, I wish to express our criticism of the fact that, as of this date, Blue Man Group has refused to bargain contracts with the theatrical associations and unions who represent professional performers, directors, technicians, etc. in Toronto. We urge you to reconsider this decision.

Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts is a multi-disciplinary arts festival that celebrates working class culture. The Festival was built on the premise that workers and artists share a common struggle for decent wages, healthy working conditions and a living culture. Mayworks goal is to promote the interests of cultural workers and trade unionists, and to bring working-class culture from the margins of cultural activity onto centre stage. This year's festival runs at a variety of Toronto venues from April 30th to May 8th, featuring 19 separate events.

Every major producer in Toronto adheres to agreements with Canadian Actors' Equity
Association, the Toronto Musicians' Association and IATSE. There is no reason for Blue Man
Group to seek to be exempt from this practice, which ensures that our community's artists and
technicians will be dealt with fairly and equitably.

We support the boycott called by CAEA, TMA and IATSE. and we will not promote the Toronto Blue Man Group production during our festival.

Yours sincercly,

Anna Willats, Treasurer
Mayworks Festival Board of Directors

cc:	IATSE CAEA AFM-TMA

festival of working people & the art

25 Cecil Street
Toronto ON M5T 1N1

ph: 416.599.9096
fx: 416.599.8661

email: admin@mayworks.ca
website: www.mayworks.ca

View/Download a .pdf version of the original Mayworks letter from our Media Page