Faithful Central Bible Church Puts Over 120 Workers on Sidewalk at LA Forum after 39 Years of Service

Dear Members of Faithful Central Bible Church,

For years members of Faithful Central Bible Church have stood with our labor brothers and sisters in our fights for economic and social justice. We have seen the church’s commitment time and time again to worker and civil rights.

Now we have come to a crossroads. After more than two years of negotiations for a new contract, scores of stagehands at the L.A. Forum have been locked out of their jobs and prevented from working. Another 60 janitors and other workers have had their contracts terminated.

Veteran stagehands cannot afford the 35 percent pay cut for rehearsals imposed on us by the Forum’s bargaining agent, SMG, a multimillion dollar management corporation. We understand the financial difficulties in running a facility the size of the Forum and are willing to return to the table to negotiate a fair agreement to all parties. Our members are eager to return to work.

IA 33 stagehands are committed to the community. The union is offering to start an internship program so church and community members can learn crafts of theatrical stage employees.

We appreciate the concern and support of the community we have received to date. We care about the Forum. Many of us have worked here for decades. We are all committed to keeping good middle class jobs in Inglewood.

Now we are calling on the Church not to wash its hands of this dispute. By defending fair pay and treatment, the Forum would reaffirm the values of the many union members who belong to the Faithful Central Bible Church. We’re asking Bishop Ulmer to please take a leadership role in forging a solution.

Please help find a just resolution.

In Solidarity,
IATSE Local 33, SEIU 1877, Op Engineers 501

Here's a PDF file of this letter for printing and
mailing to the Faithful Central Bible Church
333 W. Florence Ave., Inglewood, CA 90301