City of Los Angeles Grants Union Recognition to the Griffith Observatory Planetarium's Lecturers
The lecturers who are affiliated with Actors’ Equity Association will now sit down with city representatives to bargain a first contract.
Lecturers who narrate the planetarium shows at Griffith Observatory and who took steps late last year to form a union, this week have been granted union recognition by the City of Los Angeles' City Employee Relations Board. The lecturers who are affiliated with Actors' Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live entertainment, will now sit down with city representatives to bargain a first contract.
"We are incredibly proud and deeply protective of the work we do here," said Michael Faulkner, one of the planetarium lecturers. "The team of live narrators in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium are integral to the mission of Griffith Observatory, and a big part of what makes it one of the City of Los Angeles' most unique, inspiring and beloved institutions. Organizing with Equity, to have a collective voice when speaking to our employer, is one way of ensuring that the tradition of using live lecturers to narrate planetarium shows can remain a cherished part of the Griffith Observatory experience for millions of locals and tourists alike for years to come."
"The lecturers who give voice to these presentations are critical to maintaining Griffith Observatory's reputation as one of the world's premiere planetariums," said Kate Shindle, president of Actors' Equity Association. "We anticipate the cooperation of the City of Los Angeles and look forward to bargaining a first contract and a fair contract."
For more information on the Griffith Observatory lecturers and their campaign for union recognition listen to "Storytellers at a Los Angeles planetarium join the union representing Broadway actors" from this morning's broadcast of National Public Radio's Morning Edition.
Videos
|
The Most Happy Fella North Coast Repertory Theatre (6/03-6/28) |
|
Millennials Are Killing Musicals Colony Theatre (4/30-5/17) |
|
In the Blink of an Eye: A Musical Memoir The Pico (6/19-6/21) |
|
Melt : The Play The Marilyn Theatre at the Lee Strasberg Institute (6/11-6/13) |
|
He-Man: Episode 3 Akbar (6/22-6/22) |
|
Sanctuary City Chance Theater (5/01-5/24) |
|
The (Not So Real) Housewives of Transylvania The Actors Company Let Live Theatre (6/04-6/26) |
|
John Cameron Mitchell: Hedwig 25th Anniversary Movie Tour Wilshire Ebell Theatre (9/18-9/18) |
|
The Little Mermaid The Nocturne Theatre (5/08-6/28) |
|
2026 New Works Festival The Helen Borgers Theater (5/15-9/20) |
| VIEW ALL SHOWS ADD A SHOW | |
