The Kimmel Center Is Closed; Workers On Strike!
Contract negotiations between The Kimmel Center and its union workers failed at midnight and now employees are on strike. Those employees include stagehands, ushers, wardrobe workers and box office staff.
A Kimmel Center spokesperson says all of Saturday’s shows are canceled at the Kimmel Center, Merriam Theatre and the Academy of Music; including Saturday’s two performances of Angela Barrows-Dunlap’s Why Do Good Girls Like Bad Boyz at the Merriam Theater.
This is the first time the Kimmel has been shuttered by a labor dispute since opening in Dec. 2001.
The union represents about a thousand employees and the issues at hand are wage increases, benefits, contract conditions, the proposal to address equality with the women and more.
It’s unclear at this time how long the strike will last but all ticket holders will receive refunds as detailed below:
- Audra McDonald, Verizon Hall, 8pm *rescheduled for Nov. 30 at 8pm!
- Angela Barrows-Dunlap’s Why Do Good Girls Like Bad Boyz, Merriam Theater, 3pm and 8pm
- The Big Bang, Innovation Studio, 5pm and 8pm
Kimmel Center administrative offices remain open, including the Box Office located within the Kimmel Center.
Source: http://www.philly.com
