posted 06-25-2004 08:40 AM                       

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STAGE EMPLOYEES (IATSE)

Chicago Boss Gets Heavy Sentence for Obstruction

U.S. Dist. Judge Suzanne B. Conlon (N.D. IL, Reagan) slapped a 6-1/2 yr. prison sentence on Albin Brenkus on May 3. Brenkus was convicted on March 5 for his part in a multi-state campaign of violence, vandalism and arson in retaliation against three major theater companies in the midst of collective bargaining disputes. Brenkus was the secy.-treasurer of Local 110 of the Intl. Alliance of Theatrical & Stage Employees (IATSE) when he orchestrated the planting of smoke bombs in AMC, Cinemark and Loews theatres in 10 states. The multi-state vandalism was apparently aimed at forcing the theatres' corporate owners into using Local 110 projectionists in their Chicago theatres.



Jurors apparently believed the assertion of Brenkus' lawyer that he did not know that the bombs' combination of chlorine and brake fluid could burst into flames if left unattended. Brenkus was acquitted of arson and racketeering charges, but was convicted obstructing justice by instructing a Local 110 member to lie to FBI agents about the beating of a Chi.-area theater mgr.



Brenkus himself was not charged in that beating, but Judge Conlon clearly took it and the arsons into account for her sentencing of Brenkus -- an unusually stiff sentence for obstruction of justice. "The whole [beating] plot was Mr. Brenkus' idea," Conlon said as she rejected a lawyer's claim that Brenkus didn't know that a baseball bat would be used in the beating. Brenkus must also pay a $100,000 fine. [Chicago Daily Herald, 5/4/04]

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posted 07-03-2004 10:08 AM                       

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You missed the real controversy surrounding the showing of Fahrenheit 9/11 in Cleveland. How will the people who have been waiting for months to see this film deal with the fact that the Cedar-Lee has locked out its union projectionists and hired lesser-paid part-timers in their place? I won't cross the picket line, and I doubt that Michael Moore himself would if he were in town. We'll have to hope it's showing at some other theater, even another chain that gave up union contracts long ago, or wait for the DVD.

Jonathan Forman has done his best to ruin the Cleveland filmgoers' experience for years, holding films that have shown months before in other cities for the Festival, only to give them a short run after the Festival closes, showing good films in the most ridiculously small “theaters,” etc. Now he has to wring a few more dollars out of the business from his employees. Not with my money, he won't. Sorry, Michael, unless the film is showing somewhere else in town or I take a road trip, the big opening night numbers will be less one or two.

William Kennedy
Newbury

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posted 07-16-2004 12:39 PM                       

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Get Real
Teens should tear tickets for less: I was amazed to read your article on the recent picketing by union members outside the Cedar Lee Theater ["Rat Bastards," First Punch, June 23]. Although I realize that some unions have done a great deal for the American worker, doesn't everyone agree that they may be a little out of touch?

Cleveland Cinemas was able to cut the average wage from $15 an hour down to between $7 and $10 an hour. That seems a fair wage for someone to make for tearing ticket stubs in half or making popcorn. These jobs are typically held by high school students. I can't help but wonder how much of my $8.50 ticket goes to the extreme wages some of these cinemas have to pay. Let's get real here.

Michael Yopko
Columbus

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posted 07-16-2004 12:57 PM                    

quote: Jeffry L. Johnson

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can't help but wonder how much of my $8.50 ticket goes to the extreme wages some of these cinemas have to pay. Let's get real here.

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quote: Jeffry L. Johnson

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$7 and $10 an hour. That seems a fair wage for someone to make for tearing ticket stubs in half or making popcorn.

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