Coolidge Corner Theatre staff plan to unionize

Employees at the historic Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline have announced plans to unionize. Floor staff members are citing inadequate wages, no health care benefits, inconsistent scheduling, and a lack of clear communication by leadership.

“Floor staff are the folks who are doing ticketing, selling in the box office, working concessions, turning the theaters around after screenings,” union effort co-organizer and spokesperson Ginny Hamlin said in an interview Wednesday. “So everything that's customer-facing.”

Hamlin has been working at the Coolidge for about five years, the last three as floor staff supervisor. She said the unionization's goal is to spark dialogue with the theater's leadership so they can work together on improving workplace conditions.

“We really want transparent communication with our bosses, we really want equitable wages for our employees,” Hamlin added, “because we do so much for the business.” She said most floor staff earn about $17.50 an hour. “For what it costs to live in Boston, it's not exactly the most competitive.”

Union organizers also hope to be more involved in decisions made by management that affect their jobs.  “We just want everyone to feel listened to,” Hamlin said. “We just want to feel seen.”

The unionization news comes on the heels of the Coolidge unveiling its more than $14-million-dollar expansion in March.

In a statement late Wednesday, executive leadership and board of trustees members said they received a request for voluntary recognition of the Coolidge Corner Theatre Union.

"We are presently reviewing this request and the accompanying documents that were submitted. Though we are unable to comment while this review is in process, what we can say without hesitation is that the Coolidge staff is at the heart of everything we do. We have great respect for our employees, and are committed to ensuring that their voices are heard," the statement reads.

Hamlin and her peers began the unionization process with the United Auto Workers (UAW) 1596 in February. The UAW also also represents employees at Brookline Booksmith, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in the Berkshires.

Hamlin said about 40 colleagues have so far expressed willingness to join the theatre's fledgling union, and more than a dozen are working consistently towards making it a reality at the Coolidge.

“It’s such a cultural landmark in the area, and everyone who works there feels so passionate about it,” Hamlin said, “and we feel that anything that contributes to a more transparent and equitable workplace that recognizes us — and values how we contribute to the theater's success — is just really important.”