BK Alamo Drafthouse Workers Seek Union: Barbenheimer Was Final Straw

BROOKLYN, NY — For the Alamo Drafthouse workers, Barbenheimer was the final straw.

Workers at downtown Brooklyn's drink-and-dine movie theater petitioned the National Labor Relations Board Monday for an election to join, United Auto Workers Local 2179, Concierge worker Jordan Baruch told Patch.

The decision was a no-brainer after the record-breaking dual release of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" — opening weekend brought 304,000 guests to Alamo locations across the country — pushed workers to the limit, Baruch said.

"We've been trying to get some more support," Baruch said. "And it hasn't been working out."

Workers are concerned about disorganized scheduling practices that leave employees understaffed and lacking consistent work, Baruch told Patch.

Employees also want streamlined training for safety concerns like active shooters, burglary, injuries or allergic reactions, Baruch said.

And, despite the kitchen having passed health and safety inspections, employees want increased safety measures like slip resistance and regular deep cleaning of appliances.

"Venue staff are unionizing in response to health and safety concerns, harmful corporate restructuring, chronic staffing issues and a long history of management abuse and bullying," organizers said in a news release.

Management fails to meet staff's concerns with meaningful action, Baruch said.

"It can be easy to get management to understand," said the concierge. "But it's increasingly difficult to get changes to actually occur, especially meaningful changes."

The Barbenheimer rush left workers overwhelmed and dealing with digital systems that couldn't handle the load, Baruch argued.

And new workers training during Barbenheimer weekend were thrown into chaos — another example of why streamlined training with ample time is so important.

"Training in that scenario is very overwhelming," said Baruch, who trains new employees at Alamo. "We wish we could be able to train people in quieter... environments."

Baruch said workers' interest in representation dates back to before the pandemic.

"The workers of Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn demand that the company respect its exploited workforce and share the profits reaped year-round with those who sacrifice their bodies, minds and hearts to create those profits," organizers said in a news release.

In June, Brooklyn's Alamo Drafthouse faced union-busting allegations when the company decided to scrap the projectionist position — days after the location's projectionist filed a petition with the NLRB, according to the New York City Central Labor Council.

Alamo Drafthouse did not respond to Patch's request for comment.