After seven months of negotiations, ushers at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre have reached a tentative agreement on their first three-year labor contract with the Nederlander Organization-owned theater and union IATSE Local B-192.
The provisional pact, agreed upon on Monday, March 11, will impact over 70 ushers. Key highlights of the agreement include a 25 percent increase in wages over the contract period, with a minimum hourly rate of $21.50 by the contract’s end. It also introduces bereavement pay, time and a half pay for holiday shifts, and additional compensation for ushers working seven consecutive days or three shifts in a day. Additionally, the contract mandates 24 hours’ notice for canceled shifts, outlines a grievance process, and provides an annual clothing stipend for uniform expenses.
Hollywood Pantages Theatre and Broadway in Hollywood president Jeff Loeb expressed satisfaction with the agreement, stating, “We are pleased to report that we have reached a tentative agreement with Local B-192 on a new collective bargaining agreement that will cover the Front of House Ushers at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre.”
The ratification vote is scheduled to take place next week, with the specific timing yet to be determined. This agreement follows a public dispute over wages in December, during which ushers distributed pamphlets criticizing what they deemed “poverty wages” at the theater. The union had also circulated a petition calling for fair contract negotiations.
Despite the initial disagreement, progress was made in subsequent discussions, leading to the current agreement. Nicole Miller, president of IATSE Local B-192, expressed optimism about the deal, stating, “I think everybody feels really good about it.”
The ushers unionized in April 2023, citing reasons such as the desire for higher wages, increased job security, and union representation, aligning with colleagues in other roles.
