Community Corner

Stagehands End Protest, Deal Struck with Brookhaven Amphitheater

Labor Unions and theater reach agreement on Thursday afternoon.

The labor union rats standing outside Brookhaven's Pennysaver Amphitheater on Thursday will be heading home after reaching an agreement for work this summer.

Theatrical Teamsters Local 817 and Long Island Stagehands Local 340 IATSE have been protesting outside the popular Bald Hill venue off North Ocean Avenue since Wednesday hoping to gain summer employment. 

Robert Sullivan, president of Local 340 IATSE, said the protest was started up over a series of miscommunications between Long Island Events, the operator of the Pennysaver Amphitheater, and union members attempting to get hired on for the show.

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“When it came time for the Counting Crows-Wallflowers concert tomorrow, we kept reaching out to JVC Broadcasting for work when we should have reached out to LI Events. There were some phone calls missed on both sides,” Sullivan said. 

Both unions and John Caracciolo, CEO of LI Events, sat down face-to-face for the first time Thursday over lunch and were able to reach an agreement.

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“I had the opportunity to meet with the union officials for the first time today, said John Caracciolo, CEO of LI Events. "...[I] found that their positive attitude, professionalism and work ethic would help take this facility to the next level. I was very impressed with their desire to work with us to and their commitment to helping us keep our events affordable for Long Island families, they really want to help us grow this theater and for that I am grateful and proud to be working with them."

Under the agreement, Sullivan said that 10 union members will be employed as stagehands for Friday night’s concert. 

And there’s hope of more work in the future.

“We’re on for tomorrow and the next 5 shows, we’re going to work everything out,” Sullivan said. 

Local 817 called off their plans to further protest at the theater on its Facebook page.  

The Pennysaver Amphitheater will hold the first of several summers concerts this Friday featuring the Counting Crows at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are still available, as shows are held rain or shine. 

Editor's Note: A representative of Local 817 initially misidentified the operator of the Pennysaver Amphitheater as JVC Broadcasting instead of LI Events, a separate and independent company that is also owned by John Caracciolo. 


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