WESTMINSTER, Colo. — Workers at the Westminster Alamo Drafthouse Cinema plan to rally Tuesday evening against what they call "unfair labor practices" at the movie theater, the Communications Workers of America said in a news release Tuesday.
The company has failed to pay staff on time, according to the CWA. Alamo Drafthouse has prohibited workers from going home when they're injured and failed to pay workers' compensation, the CWA said. Alama Drafthouse is accused of ignoring gas leaks and failing to react appropriately to active shooter threats and sexual harassment complaints, according to the CWA news release.
On Dec. 31, 023, employees at the Westminster movie theater demanded the company recognize the union Alamo Drafthouse workers are establishing with the CWA.
The employees at the Sloan's Lake location are also asking for union recognition after "illegal firings," CWA said in its news release.
“Our corporate leaders and management have been deeply abusive, incompetent, and negligent for a long time and this has resulted in the majority of us demanding we have a say about our working conditions through unionizing. We are holding this rally to highlight and demand an end to this abuse and bring awareness to the struggles we face at the cinema,” Jett Magetti said in CWA's news release.
Magetti is an Alamo Drafthouse who believes they were recently illegally fired for union organizing. Magetti is one of three people let go for the same reason, according to CWA.
"While the company saw record profits this year following the Barbenheimer movie event. We are the reason they made those profits, yet many of us have been worked to the bone with no tip share, no bonus and no dignity," CWA said in its Tuesday news release.
In response, Alamo Drafthouse said it is "dedicated to the well-being and prosperity" of its employees. The full statement can be read below:
“Alamo Drafthouse is dedicated to the well-being and prosperity of our teammates in our goal to be the best damn cinema that has ever or will ever exist and our deeply held commitment to ensure every guest and teammate has an awesome experience and is excited to come back.
Alamo Drafthouse has always believed in providing competitive wages and robust benefits to ensure our teammates feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive both personally and professionally. Nationwide in 2023, our hourly teammates earned well above national averages for their industry and in comparison with our comparators. We review compensation data several times throughout the year and make adjustments as needed. Additionally we offer teammates best-in-class fringe benefits as well as many other perks.
We take seriously allegations of sexual harassment and abuse. We have a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment and abuse of any kind as detailed in our Code of Conduct policy that is publicly posted at all venues. All allegations and complaints are investigated thoroughly with appropriate discipline, up to and including termination.”
