First Avenue Workers Picket Demanding Fair Pay and Seniority in First Contract
Workers call on First Avenue to settle a fair contract that respects employees’ decades of work, wages that allow workers to make ends meet
Download videos and photos from the picket line here.
Minneapolis – Over 100 workers and allies from the local music scene and the labor movement picketed outside of the iconic venue this afternoon. Service and event staff from First Avenue, 7th St. Entry, Depot Tavern, Turf Club, Fine Line, Palace Theatre, and Fitzgerald Theater are calling on the company to settle a fair contract.
Although progress has been made at the bargaining table, some critical issues remain, especially related to wages and seniority. Workers in nearly all non-tipped positions at First Avenue venues make minimum wage.
“The Purple Rain drink at the Main Room costs $17, more than I make in an hour. I had to get a second job to pay my bills,” said Liz Brooks, event staff at First Avenue since 2019. “I’m wearing a pair of contacts that are two years old because I can’t afford to go to the eye doctor. If I had higher wages it would help me so much. I could stop worrying about whether I have enough quarters to do my laundry and maybe live somewhere that isn’t falling apart.”
Similar work at other concert venues in the Twin Cities can earn higher pay. The Fillmore, just blocks from First Avenue, advertised “starting pay of $20/hour” at its job fair earlier this year. Meanwhile, First Avenue has not yet agreed to a seniority system that accounts for all the years its longtime employees have put into the clubs.
“There’s a page on the First Avenue website about how proud the company is to employ people for 10+ years. They’ll celebrate us there but say our experience is irrelevant when it comes to work and scheduling? We are what makes this place unique. The club could prove they actually respect us by agreeing to our seniority,” said Pauli DeMaris, who has worked at First Avenue for nearly 20 years.
Twin Cities United Performers (TCUP), which organized a letter of support from over 300 local artists last November when the workers first unionized, joined in support again today.
“First Avenue would not be one of the most iconic venues it is today without the labor of the dedicated, music loving workers who make every show happen. They are more than deserving of the demands they are asking for and we as TCUP will continue to support them in whatever their needs may be until a contract is finalized,” said Nadirah McGill of TCUP and member of the Gully Boys.
Workers have been in bargaining since late last year and look forward to continuing talks with the company next week.
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UNITE HERE Local 17 is Minnesota’s hospitality workers’ union, representing over 6,000 workers in hotels, airport restaurants, sports stadiums, craft beverage makers, university cafeterias, and more.