The American Variety Artists Guild (AVGA) will no longer represent workers at two Medieval Times stores who voted to unionize in 2022. Huffington Post first reported Wednesday.
The union said its locations no longer received the support it needed to reach collective bargaining agreements with Medieval Times, effectively forcing the group to abandon its unionization efforts. .
The two places’ 2022 union vote drew enthusiastic publicity and joke-filled support from union supporters online, but attempts to reach a deal with Medieval Times made little progress.
In late 2022, the company lost a lawsuit against the union, alleging that workers had stolen the company’s trademark by calling itself “Medieval Times Performers United.”
Employees at the entertainment chain’s California location went on strike in February 2023, citing insufficient wages and fair working conditions, but contract negotiations were unsuccessful. Instead, the company sent a “scab” replacement actor, and the strike ended nine months later in November.
California-based actor Erin Zapcic told HuffPost that the company has no intention of engaging in union negotiations in good faith.
“Their purpose wasn’t just to beat us. It was to destroy us,” Zapcic said. “We believe we have caused millions of dollars in damage to this company.” [in legal costs] And they were going to keep using that money to get rid of us. ”
The union’s failure comes as it expands into several large state-run companies, including electoral successes at Starbucks stores and Amazon warehouses across the country. These corporate organizations now face similar struggles to obtain labor agreements with employers.
The Hill has contacted AGVA and Medieval Times for comment.
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