April 19, 2005

Mr. Patrick Willingham
Chief Operating Officer
Blue Man Group Productions
699 Broadway, 5th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10012

Dear Mr. Willingham:

Re: United Steelworkers Calls for Support of Blue Man Group Boycott in Canada

I am disappointed to learn that representatives of the Toronto production of Blue Man Group have refused Local 58 and Local 822 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, It's Territories and Canada, Canadian Actors' Equity Association, and the Toronto Musicians' Association of the American Federation of Musicians requests to enter into good faith negotiations with the intent of establishing an agreement covering the production. I find it unconscionable that a U.S. based corporation would expect to operate in a foreign country without respect for long established and accepted business sector standards.

We declare ourselves in total solidarity with all Canadian craftspeople and performers and urge all our affiliates to encourage their members not to take part in any Blue Man Group's production until it abides by professional area labour standards.

Sincerely yours,

Leo W. Gerard
International President

LWG/lml

c:	Kenneth Neumann, USW Canadian National Director Wayne Fraser, USW District 6 Director Thomas C. Short, International President, IATSE Anita Josifovski, IATSE

View/Download a .pdf version of the original USWA letter