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Date: 5/3/2022
AMHERST – Amherst Cinema Workers United (ACWU) filed a petition to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to form a union on April 22. That same day, workers sent a letter asking for voluntary recognition to cinema’s Board of Trustees President and Executive Director Salman Hameed. The cinema announced they would agree to voluntarily recognize the ACWU on its social media accounts three days later.
“The safety and well-being of our employees and patrons has been, is, and always will be one of our topmost priorities at Amherst Cinema,” the cinema stated in a social media post. “We have gone through some extremely challenging times together during the past two years to keep the cinema open to the public and support our employees. We value the work of our employees in making the cinema successful. Amherst Cinema respects the voices of our workers and their right to unionize. Today, the Amherst Cinema Board of Directors voted to voluntarily recognize Amherst Cinema Workers United (ACWU), and the Board looks forward to a fair and transparent collective bargaining relationship. As we have more information to share, we will be providing updates and media briefings.”
Kiah Raymond has worked in the box and concessions position at Amherst Cinema since 2018 and is a founding member of the union. She said the motivation for starting ACWU was navigating an uncertain time as workers, saying the past few years have intensified difficulties that were already present.
“Finding affordable housing in the Valley is nearly impossible, gas prices are high and we are seeing the effects of inflation in everything,” Raymond said. “The cinema has been reopened for a year and we felt it was time that there was some material recognition for the position we have as on-site employees working through the waves of a global pandemic.”
Executive Co-Director for the Pioneer Valley Workers Center (PVWC) Alfonso Neal was elected to his position by the PVWC Board of Directors and members in November and officially started in December 2021. He has a background in union organizing and representation and said that the ACWU reached out to them for information about organizing a union, what options they could take, the NLRB process, labor relations and other general support.
“We look forward to continuing that support as ACWU begins good faith contract negotiations with Amherst Cinema in the near future,” Neal said. “[The union] was needed because all workers should feel that they have folks in their corner when it comes to fighting for a seat at the table.”
Neal called the organizing effort and formation of ACWU and the decision by the cinema’s directors to voluntarily recognize their union a “historic moment for our region and echoes the national upsurge of union activity and organizing.”
He continued, “The PVWC looks forward to hearing from the Cinema’s Board of Directors and beginning good faith contract negotiations on behalf of ACWU. When workers fight, they win, and I hope this victory by ACWU will inspire all workers in our region to begin organizing and reaching out to us, local unions, and other community organizations for support.”
Raymond said the ACWU is a small group with no hierarchy or official roles. They volunteer for various tasks as they have the capacity for them. She said one person is an incredible artist that made the logo but is short on time so other people talk with the media and one of the more organized members gathers them for meetings.
She concluded that while all members are encouraged by the board’s voluntary recognition, it is still just the first step. Raymond said she looks forward to negotiations that will return material wins for the floor staff and to maintain a strong union voice in future decisions.
“I’m really excited to step forward into a new chapter in Amherst Cinema’s history,” said Steve Cameron, another ACWU founding member. “I’m feeling optimistic that our forthcoming negotiations will yield positive results for the workers and the long-term sustainability of the cinema.”