NEWS ITEM: Shaw Fest staff locked out
11 Mar'10

JOHN COULBOURN - QMI Agency

Just weeks before they are to begin preview performances, the Shaw Festival have announced that employees represented by IATSE Local 461 in the Festival's Facility Department, will be locked out, as of 5 p.m. Wednesday.

The move comes after a mediator appointed by  the Ontario Labour Relations Board resolved most of the issues between the union and the Festival, but in the end, the parties failed to resolve issues around  "contracting out."

While Festival officials have indicated they are prepared to continue negotiations with IATSE regarding contracts for Production and Audience Services Collective Agreements, IATSE Local 461 will not negotiate on those contracts until agreement is reached on the Facilities Department Contract.