Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Workers at legendary Minneapolis music club First Avenue and its six sister clubs in the Twin Cities ratified their first-ever union contract in a unanimous vote. The 230 event and service staff are now represented by UNITE HERE Local 17. In addition to First Avenue, the contract also covers Minneapolis clubs 7th Street Entry, Union Depot, and Fine Line, as well as St. Paul venues Fitzgerald Theater, Palace Theater and Turf Club. The three-year contract includes "big raises," longevity pay, improved scheduling, training and safety policies and protections for LGBTQ+ workers.
First Avenue, in its 55th year of operation, is one of the most hallowed music clubs in the country, because of its connection to Prince, who featured it prominently in his hit 1985 movie "Purple Rain."