Lockout hurting ticket sales at CNE, says CEO

The CEO of the Canadian National Exhibition says the ongoing lockout is having a "significant negative impact" on attendance and revenue, with $1.5 million in projected lossesso far.

"It's evident that the pickets at the gates are having an effect," said CEO Virginia Ludy. Shesent a letter to the mayorand city councillors on Tuesday expressing her growing concerns about the lockout and itsimpact on the CNE.

"I think that there are some folks in the community who just don't feel comfortable crossing a picket line."

• CNE kicks off behind a picket line as labour dispute looms large
• Toronto council to hold special meeting as locked-out workers picket Exhibition

In her letter,Ludyurged the city and the Exhibition Placeboard of governors to re-engage withtheInternational Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 58,and for the union to end its picketing and resolve the dispute as quickly as possible.

"This stalemate cannot continue," wroteLudy. "TheCNEhas only 14 days, including today, to try to recoup our early losses, reverse the negative messages regarding the picketing and put the focus back on the terrific programming on display at this year'sCNE."

The letter came the same day ascity council held a specialmeeting on the labour dispute, which took place behind closed doors.

Stagehands and technical employees of IATSELocal 58 have been locked out of the Exhibition grounds since July 20, amid contract negotiations. The union handles technical work for live entertainment on the grounds, including stage-building, sound, lighting, videoand special effects.

Membershavebeen picketing on the grounds and outside city hall, demanding the Exhibition Place board of governors come back to the bargaining table.

City council holds closed-door meeting

The Exhibition Place board reports directly to the Toronto city council, which passed a motion confirmingconfidential instructions to staff during Tuesday's meeting.

Mayor John Tory saidtheinstructions were "meant to move us in the direction I think we should all be moving, which is to get people back at the negotiating table...and to also use the means that are described in the instructions to staff as an opportunity to bring the lockout to an end."

Torysaid that ultimately it has to be the Exhibition Place board of governors thatdetermines what happens. He said a request has been made, concurred by the board chair, to consider some steps toward discussing outstanding issues with a view to ending the lockout.

Dispute over contracting work

JustinAntheunis, president of Local 58,said he's saddened to see theCNEcaught in the middle of this labour dispute. He saidthis shows that the city "doesn't seem toreally care" how the disputeis affecting the CNE, and says he's disappointed that Tuesday's meeting took place out of public view.

Antheuni, said the labour dispute is primarily over the board wantingto contract out work done on the Ex grounds, instead of usingIATSEunion workers.

The Exhibition Place board, chaired byCoun. Mark Grimes, has said the next collective agreement needs to ensure that venues at the downtown siteincludingBMOField, Queen Elizabeth Theatre and theEnercareCentreremain competitive.

The union's agreement expired at the end of 2017.

Ludy says the picketing,the union's "negative" social media activitiesand media coverage, have discouraged ticket sales for the annual Toronto fair.

There was also initially some confusion, she said, with some people thinking it was the CNEthatlocked people out. In fact, the CNEhas no part in the dispute or negotiations,Ludy said, and had not been consulted before the lockout.

"These are not our workers," said Ludy. "Our landlord has made the decision to lock their workers out.

CNEmade offers to union

The CNEmade offers to the union, Ludy said, including offering them space inside the fair groundsto "peacefully interact" and provide information to guests, instead of picketing.

They also offered the union members the opportunity to work at the CNE through a third party; and more recently to work through a direct contract with the CNE. The union declined that offer,saying it would cause divides between members. The CNEis just one tenant on the Ex grounds, Antheunis said,so there would still be other union workerspicketing.

In her letter,Ludysaid theCNEcontributes about 20 per cent of the projected 2018 revenues at Exhibition Placeand has prepaid$3.7 million to Exhibition Place for this summer's fair.

Ludysays that while they're hoping to make up some of the lost revenue in the coming days, $1.5 million"is a big number to be chasing." She said they could potentially see further losses if picketing continues.

Ludy said the lockout has also led to increased expenses. TheCNEhas hired temporary workers to fillin, as well as reassigningsome other workers'duties.IATSE is a highly-skilled union, she said, and the temporary workers are not as familiar with the site and just not as efficient.The dispute also means additional security, housing, food and legal fees, she said.