December 12, 2025
We have a date for the secret ballot election we requested so our employees can make their own decision about being represented by IATSE Locals 22 and 868. There will be an official notice from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that will be posted in your workplace and will provide the full details for the election.
Here are the general details. After working with IATSE , we have agreed that the vote will take place on January 15th and 21st and the NLRB will oversee the vote on those dates at the hours and places listed below.
Each eligible employee will have the opportunity to decide whether they want to be represented by IATSE and cast a vote. A simple majority—51% — of those who vote will determine the outcome. That means that if only a small number of employees actually vote, then every eligible employee would be bound by what those voting employees decide.
What to Expect Next
I.M.P. and IATSE agreed to election dates when more shows are scheduled so that more employees would be able to vote on days they were already scheduled to work. As we have said from the beginning, this is an important decision and we called for a vote so that every employee has the opportunity for their voice to be heard.
Ahead of the vote, we will share more details about what you can expect from the process. We want everyone to vote to decide their own future and I.M.P. will respect whatever the outcome. If you have questions in the meantime, please speak with your supervisor or reach out to me directly.
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Voting Locations for Box Office
Date: January 15, 2026
Hours: 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Locations:
- I.M.P Office (913 Florida Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001)
- Records Store at The Anthem (901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20004)
Date: January 21, 2026
Hours: 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Locations:
- I.M.P Office (913 Florida Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001)
- Records Store at The Anthem (901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20004)
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Voting Locations for Stagehands
Date: January 15, 2026
Hours: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM & 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Location:
- I.M.P Office (913 Florida Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Date: January 21, 2026
Hours: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM & 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Location:
- Records Store at The Anthem (901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20004)
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- Stagehands – May vote on either day at any available time. Please note that there is only one location open each day.
- Box Office Employees – Will have two polling places open each day, but may only vote at one of them.
- Anthem Box Office Employees – Must vote at The Anthem location.
- All Other Box Office Employees – Must vote at the Florida Ave. location.
There will be more information to follow, and documents from the NLRB will be posted at the venues when received. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to me or Joe Lennon with any questions.
Best,
Donna
December 9, 2025
This Friday, the NLRB will likely set a date for the election that I.M.P. requested for you to decide if you want IATSE to represent you.
Before the election, we want you to know how this will change things at I.M.P for you. Some of these changes are below, and we want to give you the opportunity to learn more and ask questions about it.
- Fewer Shows – The increased costs that will result from a union could mean fewer shows and fewer opportunities.
- Working Multiple Venues – If IATSE bargains for the same terms at other venues, it could mean fewer opportunities to work at our venues. Having a union could mean production and box office employees with less union seniority will likely have to go to other venues because those with higher union seniority will have their choice of shows to work, including ours.
- More Expensive Tickets – Increased costs will make it cost more to come to our shows, period.
- A Union Costs You Money – If you vote to be represented by IATSE, it means every production and box office employee will have money taken out of every paycheck to pay IATSE.
- The Vote Is Not for Raises and Benefits – There is no pre-negotiated agreement or new terms of employment before you vote. If employees vote for a union, it just means we start negotiating. A first contract typically takes a year or more to negotiate.
Bargaining issues must be agreed to by both the union and I.M.P. – just because the union asks, doesn’t mean we will say yes. Moving forward, there is no guarantee you will get a better deal whether it is you or the union who asks.
We want to avoid these things and are asking you to take the one-year challenge.
If you vote for IATSE and are unhappy with what they have negotiated, you will have no choice. You will be bound by whatever is in the contract and will be forced to pay dues, even if you are not better off than you are now.
If you vote for IMP, you are voting to give us a year to prove we are serious about making internal changes. If you are not happy in one year, the law allows you to have another vote to join IATSE.
December 5, 2025
After speaking with many of you over the last few days, it’s clear that we have not supported you or done right by you in the way that you deserve, or as we intended. We also genuinely do not believe that a majority of our employees want to be represented by IATSE Local 22.
Yesterday, IATSE Local 22 agreed to an election. This is to decide if you want a union to represent you. It is not for a pre-negotiated deal – the election is only about whether you want a union to negotiate for you, or if you want to negotiate with us yourselves. Joining a union is not something you should take lightly and it is not a decision that can be easily undone.
We, IATSE and the National Labor Relations Board are currently working to schedule the time and date for a secret ballot election to be conducted by a neutral representative from that board. We want everyone to vote to decide their own future and I.M.P. will respect that decision.
As always, I am available for questions (and emails!).
Best,
Donna
December 2, 2025
In response to yesterday’s note, IATSE Local 22 sent us a demand letter which we believe incorrectly states that 50 percent of our production and box office employees support unionizing. The Union’s ultimatum is an attempt to quickly and unfairly force a decision affecting all members of those departments, with only some voices accounted for.
As we previously stated, we believe every employee should have the opportunity to cast their vote and have a say in this important decision in a secret ballot election that will be independently managed by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Below are some facts about what will happen next, information about how the process works, and how joining a union could impact you and your experience at I.M.P.
Questions and Answers
What does it mean to be represented by a union?
If a union is elected, all employees in a bargaining unit will be covered by the collective bargaining agreement that is eventually negotiated.There would be no ability to opt out of either union representation or the obligation to pay dues (money taken out of your paycheck that is paid to the union), regardless of the way you voted.You will no longer be able to have individual discussions with management about raises, time off, or other benefits. All terms of employment would be subject to collective bargaining.
If I signed a union card, does that mean I am in a union?
No. However, I.M.P. will now petition the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to independently manage and oversee a secret ballot election – where each employee can decide for themselves.
If I signed a union card, do I have to vote yes? If I didn’t sign any card, can I still vote in a secret ballot election?
No. You can gather information about what forming a union would mean for you and make your own independent decision about what is best for you – free from pressure from I.M.P. or the union.Yes. In fact, we encourage every employee who would be impacted to vote about this important decision.
How would this fundamentally change my relationship with I.M.P.?
Union representation would change how you and I.M.P. interact on important issues and employee programs. This goes beyond core issues like wages and scheduling, it would impact every facet of employment – from compensation, to scheduling, to benefits programs.
It is also important to be transparent that we do not know when a union election might take place. The timing of any election is set by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), not by I.M.P. or the union. In some cases, the NLRB can schedule and administer an election in as little as two weeks; in other cases, it can take significantly longer.
As always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
Best,
Donna
December 1, 2025
Why We Are Writing
As many of you know, three weeks ago we shared that we had agreed to voluntarily recognize UNITE HERE Local 25 and bargain in good faith to reach a contract for our bartenders, service and event staff at our U Street venues. While we know that working with a union will fundamentally change our relationship with our employees, we chose to voluntarily recognize the union because it was clear that an overwhelming majority of employees wanted union representation.
At the same time, some members of our production and box office staff shared that they were seeking representation by IATSE Local 22, and also requested voluntary recognition of the union. We believed it was important to hear directly from Local 22, because it is a separate union with different priorities. That conversation took place last Tuesday and after considering all the information presented to us, it’s not clear that this is what the majority of employees want.
To make sure all affected Production and Box Office employees have a say in this important decision, we have decided to preserve their rights by requesting a secret ballot election.
What to expect next
• Before anything can happen, IATSE must show they have enough support to petition for an election.
• If they have enough support, the National Labor Relations Board will be asked to conduct and oversee a secret ballot election. This is similar to how we choose our elected representatives – allowing people to gather the facts and make an informed decision that they believe is best for them, privately and free from pressure.
• Between now and a potential secret ballot election, both the IATSE Local 22 and our management team are permitted to communicate facts to employees about what union representation would mean. Over the next several weeks, those of you in Production and Box Office should expect continued updates from me with factual information about how being represented by a union would impact you and your experience at I.M.P.
• If the majority vote to ultimately unionize, all eligible employees in the bargaining unit will be bound by the agreement negotiated by the union. There is no option to opt out of either representation or the obligation to pay dues (money taken from each paycheck to the union), regardless of the way you voted. You will no longer be able to have individual discussions with management about raises, time off, and other benefits.
We continue to make important operational and organizational changes and are always committed to working together to strengthen our workplace and support a sustainable future.
We are grateful for everything that you do to support our artists, our I.M.P. family, and our community. We will continue to share information and listen to your feedback as we move through this process together.
If you have any questions, I encourage you to speak with your supervisor or reach out to me directly.
Best, Donna