Cleveland Approves New Labor Agreement for Stagehands
Cleveland City Council has passed an emergency ordinance to approve a new collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Theater and Stage Employees (IATSE Local 27). This agreement, processed under File No. 757-2026, covers one full-time and 20 casual employees and also amends Section 47 of Ordinance No. 194-2021 to update specific salary classifications.
What's in the file
The legislation ratifies a successor labor contract for the period of April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2028. According to the 757-2026-A File, the agreement includes the following provisions:
- Wages: A 3% base wage increase is scheduled for each year of the contract.
- Hospitalization: The City will increase health insurance contributions in 2026 and 2027 to reach contractual levels, which the document notes will create cost savings for the City.
- Vacation: Accrual procedures were modified to match non-bargaining employees. Employees will now receive two weeks of vacation after 30 days and three weeks after five years.
- Discipline: To reduce administrative costs, managers are no longer required to hold pre-disciplinary hearings for every action; hearings will only be required for discipline resulting in a loss of pay.
The following table outlines the negotiated hourly pay rates for stagehands:
| Classification | April 1, 2025 | April 1, 2026 | April 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time Stagehands | $39.56 | $40.75 | $41.97 |
| Casual Stagehands | $37.97 | $39.11 | $40.28 |
Additionally, per the Request for Legislation, the "Maximum Rates" in the pay band were increased by one-half (1/2) percent to account for rounding issues during implementation.
Who may be affected
- IATSE Local 27 members: Specifically one full-time and 20 casual stagehand employees.
- City of Cleveland: The agreement impacts the city's budget regarding wages, health insurance contributions, and administrative disciplinary procedures.
Status and timeline
- May 8, 2026: Agreement reached between the City and IATSE Local 27.
- May 25, 2026: Agreement ratified by the union membership.
- July 9, 2026: Legislation introduced.
- July 24, 2026: The emergency ordinance passed.
Residents can verify these details by reviewing the official record for File No. 757-2026 through the Cleveland City Council website.
Key facts
- Workers covered
- 1 full-time and 20 casual employees
- Annual wage increase
- 3%
Source record
- File
- 757-2026
- Type
- Emergency Ordinance
- Status
- Passed
- Committee
- City Council
- Introduced
- July 8, 2026
Official documents
- 757-2026-FOR PASSAGE-Ratify CBA for International association of Theater and Stage and amend section 47 of payband
- 757-2026- RFL - IATSE Local 27 - 06-03-26 (071526)
- 757-2026-A File-Ratify CBA lATSE and amend sec 47 of payband
- 757-2026-FP leter- Ratify CBA lATSE and amend sec 47 of payband
- FINAL VERSION City Record July 24, 2026 - Page 25