James B. Nelson

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Last week, a crew of about two dozen workers assembled the massive rolling stage that The Killers and Violent Femmes used for the first big gig at Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum.

The Milwaukee Bucks hired the workers to put together the stage, a routine part of the pre-concert preparation. The workers were non-union, and that's drawn the ire of Local 18 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

Members of the union work at Summerfest and the various ethnic festivals at Maier Festival Park, the Marcus Center, Wisconsin State Fair and various Wisconsin Center District venues.

They were not hired for work at the Bucks' previous home, the BMO Harris Bradley Center, nor have they been offered assignments at Fiserv Forum.

The union has attempted to discuss work at the new arena with the Milwaukee Bucks, but hasn't had much success, said Tom Gerferich, business manager for Local 18, which has about 100 members.

"We've been face-to-face a few times, but I wouldn't call them discussions," he said.

That dispute has led to picketing by union members and supporters, including a large showing of several dozen people at the Fiserv Forum grand opening Aug. 26. The union has displayed a large inflatable rat at several of its arena protests.

They returned a few days later when the Democratic National Committee came to Milwaukee. The city is a finalist for the 2020 DNC national convention, and the arena is a central part of the plan to attract the event.

Big difference in wages

The Bucks say that the decision to use non-union stagehands is a matter of economics. They've agreed to pay a starting wage of $12.50 an hour for arena workers and promised that the pay would bump up to $15 within a few years.

Union workers doing the same work would be paid a little more than $20 an hour, Gergerich said.

Gergerich said he met with Bucks senior vice president Alex Lasry in advance of the arena opening. Lasry offered the union a meeting with Bucks President Peter Feigin and arena general manager Raj Saha, on the condition that the picketing end, Gergerich said.

That offer didn't sit well with the union, he said. "There was nothing of any substance going on," Gergerich said.

Feigin said the Bucks are paying arena workers fairly and isn't pleased with the union's actions.

"This has been exceedingly aggressive," he said. "I think everyone chooses their tactics. This is not the way that we like to do business."

The Bucks have said the union is free to organize the stagehands currently employed by the team.

Gergerich said Thursday that there has been no further contact with Bucks management. Feigin indicated that was likely to remain the case.

"There are hundreds of people who are very happy with what we do," Feigin said.