Two Tucson arts organizations unionize

Employees at two Tucson arts institutions now have union representation and newly secured workplace protections, a change that could affect the people who keep local film screenings and professional theater productions running. The Loft Cinema and Arizona Theatre Company completed unionization campaigns after roughly a year and a half of organizing and negotiations. Their agreements cover workers in jobs ranging from projection and technical production to customer service and theater craft, creating formal processes for pay, scheduling, benefits and workplace disputes.

The Loft Cinema’s union became official Aug. 28, after employees reached a contract agreement with management several months after beginning the process. Workers voted unanimously in spring 2025 to be represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, or IATSE. The union represents eligible Loft employees, while supervisors and managers are excluded. The theater currently has about 30 employees, and around 20 had joined the union by the time of the announcement. The final number of workers formally joining had not yet been determined, though 20 employees voted on the collective bargaining agreement.

The Loft’s contract includes higher wages, revised overtime rules, paid breaks, guaranteed weekly hours, more paid sick and vacation time, and protection against termination without just cause. Most of those benefits were already available before the agreement, according to Executive Director Lisa Lopez, but the contract makes the protections permanent and legally binding. Lopez said that distinction gives workers something that will remain in place for staff members in the future, not only for those who participated in the organizing campaign.

The organizing effort at the Loft began in late 2024. Employees formed an organizing committee and voted the following spring to seek IATSE representation. Union representatives and management then spent more than a year in about 20 collective bargaining sessions before reaching an agreement in August. Lopez, who was hired as executive director about three months before negotiations were already underway, said participating in the process gave her an opportunity to learn directly from employees about their needs and priorities. She described listening as one of the most important responsibilities for a leader.

Lopez also said the atmosphere at the Loft remained positive after the agreement was reached. The goal, she said, is a workplace where people feel protected, heard and valued. The Loft, which opened in 1975, is Tucson’s longest continuously operating movie theater and is known for presenting a combination of popular culture films and independent cinema. Its employees help maintain that programming through projection, lighting, video and audio work, customer service, concessions, hair and makeup, and other theater craft roles. The union covers employees beyond only those who formally joined it.

Arizona Theatre Company employees also won unanimous approval for union representation, with the organizing process beginning in January 2025 and the vote taking place in mid May. Their union will represent about 20 full time theater production employees. The group includes carpenters, painters, lighting, video and audio technicians, costume workers, hair and makeup technicians, and other theater craft employees. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees represents the workers, extending union representation to the production staff responsible for bringing ATC’s performances to the stage.

The ATC agreement includes expanded health care coverage, wage increases, paid breaks, guaranteed hours, additional days off and new overtime terms. The company said the contract reflects its commitment to the long term sustainability of Arizona Theatre Company. Matt August, ATC’s artistic director, and Anna Rose, its executive director, expressed support for the agreement and credited the production staff’s efforts. The company said the entire organization could benefit from a renewed spirit of cooperation, mutual encouragement and celebration.

Arizona Theatre Company opened in 1967 and is the state’s official and only professional regional theater operating under the League of Resident Theatres. Its unionization gives formal representation to workers whose roles are essential but often less visible to audiences than actors and directors. For Tucson residents who attend plays at ATC or films at the Loft, the agreements establish a clearer structure behind those cultural experiences. They also arrive as both organizations emphasize stability, worker voice and the long term future of Tucson’s arts community. The next phase will be implementing the contracts and continuing labor relations under the new agreements.