Скачать или смотреть Workers walk out and artists refuse to play World Cafe Live amid venue transformation

The strife continues at the World Cafe Live, the West Philly venue that has been wracked with labor unrest since workers walked out during a Suzanne Vega concert earlier this month in protest of what they said was “unfair treatment” under the management team of new CEO Joseph Callahan.

Last week, in an interview with The Inquirer, Callahan, a Northeast Philly native who made headlines last year by bringing the Portal to the city, said he was working to get the nonprofit venue out of debt and on sound financial footing. He pledged to keep the venue, which was founded by Hal Real in 2004, running for another generation.

“World Cafe Live is here to stay. We’re tripling down on live music.” There is “zero probability” of the venue closing, he said, as the staff moves to unionize.

According to Sophia Mattes, the venue’s former night box office manager, current production staff have submitted a request to be represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, known locally as IATSE Local 8.

A WCL representative confirmed that a meeting between management and IATSE Local 8 took place Monday, and said that “the venue’s former employees are working with IATSE and their Local 8 representatives to unionize and secure fair representation, regardless of management changes. We believe in giving our former staff a voice about their working conditions.”

Read the full story here: https://www.inquirer.com/entertainmen...

📝 by Dan DeLuca / Staff
📹 by Lauren Schneiderman / Staff; Apple via Associated Press
📸 by Inquirer Staff

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