Showbox stage crews go union

Showbox Market and Showbox SoDo stage crews voted to join IATSE Local 15 and secured their first contract

SEATTLE, WA (May 8, 2025) — The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 15 (IATSE 15) announced at the end of April that historic Seattle music venues, the Showbox Market and Showbox SoDo, are now union houses. The two venues are longtime staples of the Seattle music scene, played throughout the years by greats like Duke Ellington and hometown heroes Soundgarden and Pearl Jam.

After more than two years of organizing and negotiations, the workers’ first collective bargaining agreement was signed and went into effect on Monday, April 14, 2025. Representing all stagehands and technicians, this is the first nightclub in the Seattle area to have a unionized stage crew.

“This moment – it’s exciting, it’s historic, and it’s a pivotal opportunity for the union to build relationships and worker power with a previously un-represented subsector of the live event industry”, says Tiffany Youngblood, Showbox House Steward & Stagehand, in a statement announcing the workers’ win.

“We have immense love for these venues and their community, but we recognized that many of our workers were earning wages that were below the area living wage and that we had very little say in or understanding of our working conditions. We organized because we wanted to improve conditions, increase transparency, and introduce industry-standard practices & benefits.”

Some of the big wins in this first contract include substantial wage increases, vacation pay, retirement contributions, and additional paid holidays. And by organizing, the workers also gained access to the vast safety and job-related training opportunities available through IATSE training trusts, according to a statement from the union.

“IATSE Local 15 is proud to support workers exercising their rights to have a voice in their workplace. Employers think they can pay workers less because the job is ‘cool’ and the work is intermittent. But these workers also deserve a decent wage, benefits, and a safe place to work,” stated Jennifer Bacon, President of IATSE Local 15.

With contracts in place, two of Seattle’s defining cultural values — good music and good jobs — are now enshrined at these storied venues.