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FOR
RELEASE 6:00 A.M., THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2005
Blue
Man Group issues legal threats while top Canadian technician
quits, calling Toronto production "an oppressive work
environment."
TORONTO
- On the heels of legal threats by Blue Man Group against
the theatrical associations and unions leading a boycott of
the Toronto production, a senior Canadian technician who recently
quit the show because of broken promises and verbal abuse
has broken his silence to contradict the New York-based production's
version of how its employees are treated. (His name and background
will be provided at personal interviews. See below for arrangements.)
"It
was an oppressive work environment," said the technician,
who has never belonged to the stage technician's union - (IATSE)
- in his thirty years in the industry. He contacted IATSE
58 with his story on his own initiative and has agreed to
be interviewed and provide pay documentation that calls into
question Blue Man Group's recent public claim that it offers
"salaries that typically exceed union norms as well as
competitive benefits."
He says
he gave up other work opportunities because Blue Man promised
41 hours of work per week, with a full benefits package. Shortly
after he was hired, his hours were reduced and he was told
there was no weekly guarantee. He was also informed that his
benefits would not begin for several months.
"The
broken promises on my pay and benefits were insulting enough.
But I have never been so verbally abused and shown such lack
of respect for my knowledge and experience as I was (by one
director in particular) during my short, unhappy time with
Blue Man Group.
"They
try to portray themselves as a family but it is not a family
I want to be part of. The Canadian stage technicians I worked
with were generally unhappy with the pay and conditions but
most are young and inexperienced. They are afraid to speak
up."
The revelations
came after the New York-based Blue Man Group's Toronto law
firm threatened legal action against the Blue Man Boycott
Coalition for certain boycott-related activities. That was
followed by a complaint to the Ontario Labour Relations Board
asking the board to stop the Canadian Actors' Equity Association
from other boycott-related activities.
"Blue
Man Group is being virulently combative at its own expense,"
said Susan Wallace, Equity's Executive Director. "Now
is the time for them to make a dramatic gesture of conciliation
and sign the same agreement as their theatrical peers."
"By
fully embracing Toronto's close-knit theatrical community
rather than trying to break it up, Blue Man will enjoy a long
and prosperous run and eventually become a well-remembered
and respected part of our city's artistic history. It is tragic
that they are determined to go in the opposite direction.
If they continue to be ill-advised, they will eventually leave
Toronto with bitter memories and wasted talent. It doesn't
have to be that way."
For
more information or to arrange interviews, contact: Victoria
Lord - 416.484.9047 & 647.519.8577 Additional contact:
Bill Reno - 416.223.7366.
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