The Atlanta Opera continues to block their Hair and Makeup crew’s access to healthcare and retaliate against them by slashing wages, all because they sought the dignity and respect of a union.

In Summer 2021, the 100% black Hair and Make-up crew at The Atlanta Opera voted as to whether they would join IATSE Local 798. The hope of the workers was that once a majority voted to form a union, they could collectively bargain a contract providing the employees with health insurance and retirement benefits—similar to what the Musicians, Stagehands, and Costume/Wardrobe workers who work under a union contract already have. But what The Atlanta Opera did is callous.

In a cynical attempt to deny hair and makeup artists the benefits of a union, the Atlanta Opera tried to prevent workers from voting by arguing that they are independent contractors (rather than employees) and don’t have the right to unionize or seek to better their terms of employment. However, The Atlanta Opera LOST that argument. The election was then held, but before the votes could be counted, The Atlanta Opera appealed to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Washington DC to try once again to claim that the workers were not “employees.” By doing so, Atlanta Opera Management caused ballots cast by the crew to be impounded while the NLRB considers if these workers are even “employees” once again.

To make matters worse, The Atlanta Opera retaliated against the crew by degrading their pay and conditions, effectively denying them work at future performances, despite the fact the venue received over $1.6 MILLION in taxpayer dollars through federal PPP financing.

Atlanta Opera Hair and Makeup Artists need your support. Join us in telling management to respect their workers by giving them equitable treatment and counting their votes!