Members of the SIFF Cinema Workers Union (SCWU) walked out of the 570-seat SIFF Cinema Downtown Friday before the sold out 3 pm 70mm screening of Christopher Nolan’s fantasy epic The Odyssey. The union said the action was authorized by a majority of members, citing concerns about the slow pace of contract bargaining and SIFF management’s proposals on wages, healthcare, and staffing.
In a social post made midnight on Friday, the SCWU said that during union negotiations SIFF refused “reasonable” requests for information, as well as a number of unnamed “offenses.” The union wrote that it had filed an unfair labor practice (ULP) with the National Labor Relations Board over these issues. In an interview with The Stranger Friday, SCWU chair, Adrienne Tippins, called management’s proposals “regressive” compared to the first contract they ratified in 2024. She said the latest proposal could cut current staffing levels in half.
In an email, a spokesperson for SIFF pushed back: “contrary to recent claims by the SCWU, SIFF leadership has consistently bargained in good faith since the start of this process in January and continues to work toward an agreement that is fair and sustainable,” and that they were “deeply saddened that [the] Union chose this moment to take collective action but we will continue to prioritize the audiences at our theaters.” SIFF did not respond to questions about the specific allegations, but said that it “welcomes the NLRB review of the ULP complaint as we are confident that they will find it baseless.”
SCWU began speaking publicly about SIFF allegedly dragging its feet at the bargaining table in May after management delayed negotiations for the duration of the Seattle International Film Festival. SIFF management offered to extend the contract, which expired on April 22, through the fest, but SCWU declined the offer. The union considered the extension to be a “ploy” to prevent them from taking potential collection action while audiences were watching.
Well, audiences are watching now. The Odyssey is without a doubt the highly anticipated movie of the year so far, and marks the return of 70 mm screenings to SIFF (for more on 70 mm, ask any man, myself included, in his mid-30s). When asked if the union had any collective actions planned during The Odyssey’s run, SCWU Chair Tippins said they’re “discussing actions.”
“Our intent is to hopefully get the public to realize what’s happening and SIFF’s bargaining team and board to step up and bargain fairly,” Tippins says.
SIFF management said they’re prepared to continue operating if SCWU goes on strike..
“We have made contingency plans that involve non-Union SIFF staff working at the theaters,” a spokesperson said in an email. “There is currently no plan to hire temporary cinema staff, but that could change depending on the duration of any walkout or strike.”