Production workers at several of Washington, D.C.’s most prominent live music venues have voted overwhelmingly to unionize, marking a significant labor development in the city’s entertainment industry.
In elections conducted onsite by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on January 15 and January 21, approximately 80 percent of production workers at the 9:30 Club, The Anthem, The Atlantis and Lincoln Theatre voted in favor of union representation. The workers—who include stagehands, audio engineers, lighting technicians and other concert production staff—chose to be represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 22. Box office workers at the same venues voted unanimously to join IATSE Local 868.
In total, about 150 workers participated in the elections. All four venues are operated by I.M.P. (Independent Music Productions), which had until January 28 to file any challenges to the election results.
The successful vote follows months of organizing efforts among venue employees. In October, more than 300 workers across I.M.P.’s Washington-area venues publicly announced their intent to unionize. The effort included production workers as well as employees in food services, box office operations and front-of-house roles such as door staff.
While some groups were able to secure union recognition without an election, others were required to go through the NLRB process. Food, beverage and staffing workers seeking representation with food service union UNITE HERE Local 25 were voluntarily recognized by management in November. Production and box office workers, however, proceeded through formal elections to secure union representation.
The venues involved are among the most well-known and historically significant music spaces in the nation’s capital. The 9:30 Club, which opened in 1980, is widely regarded as a cornerstone of the American live music scene and has played a role in launching the careers of major acts including Nirvana, R.E.M. and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The Anthem, which opened in 2017, is a modern, state-of-the-art concert hall with a capacity of up to 6,000 people. The Lincoln Theatre has deep historical roots dating back to the era of Black Broadway, while The Atlantis is known for offering the intimacy of a small club experience.
Union leaders said the vote reflects workers’ desire for a stronger voice on the job and improved working conditions behind the scenes of live performances.
“The 9:30 Club is an internationally acclaimed music venue, the Anthem is a state-of-the-art facility, the Lincoln Theater has a proud history dating back to the days of Black Broadway, and the Atlantis captures the intimacy of a small club,” said Ryan Chavka, business agent for IATSE Local 22. “With this vote for unionization, the backstage workers who bring the music and stage magic to thousands of showgoers at these I.M.P.-operated music halls will now be heard and can be treated with the dignity they deserve.”
Chavka added that the union will move quickly toward contract negotiations. “We will now reach out to I.M.P. management to schedule negotiations for a first contract. We look forward to giving these production workers a voice at the bargaining table,” he said.
The unionization effort at I.M.P.-operated venues reflects a broader national trend of workers in the live entertainment and hospitality industries organizing to seek better wages, benefits and workplace protections. As live music continues to rebound following pandemic-related disruptions, the outcome of upcoming contract negotiations could set an important precedent for venue workers in Washington, D.C., and beyond.
