On Friday afternoon, members of the SIFF Cinema Workers Union walked out before a sold-out matinee showing of Christopher Nolan\u2019s highly anticipated \u201cThe Odyssey” on 70mm<\/a> at SIFF Cinema Downtown.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 3 p.m. screening was not canceled. The walkout is planned to continue through tonight\u2019s 7 p.m. screening of \u201cThe Odyssey\u201d \u2014 also sold out \u2014 though SIFF management said that screening will also go on as scheduled.\u00a0<\/p>\n In an emailed statement on behalf of SCWU, union chair Adrienne Tippins said that 13 union workers walked out of their scheduled shifts from all SIFF venues around 2 p.m. Friday, and that more members who were not scheduled also showed up to the walkout. Tippins added that the walkout will continue through Saturday, spanning two days’ showings of \u201cThe Odyssey.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Jeanne Nickelsburg, SIFF\u2019s director of advancement, said the cinema intends to continue operating even if the walkout continues. She said SIFF management was notified Friday morning about the union\u2019s plan to walk out.\u00a0<\/p>\n Late Thursday night, SCWU posted on Instagram<\/a> that it had voted to authorize collective action following union negotiations, where they claimed SIFF engaged in bad-faith bargaining practices, including intentional delays and refusing “reasonable” information requests.<\/p>\n This alleged behavior, Tippins said, has delayed the ratification of their second contract. Their first contract expired in April.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis continuing delay denies our members any improvements in wages, benefits and protections as bargaining is prolonged,\u201d the email from Tippins said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The union has filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, according to SCWU’s Instagram post.<\/p>\n SIFF management emailed a statement saying it has \u201cconsistently come to the table in good faith, providing multiple proposals and negotiating on every point brought forward by the Union.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n SIFF said it \u201cwelcomes\u201d the review by the NLRB, as they are \u201cconfident that they will find it baseless.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The decision to walk out falls on the opening weekend of one of the most eagerly anticipated movies of the year, with Nolan\u2019s newest epic already grossing $17.6 million<\/a> across the nation just from Thursday previews, on track toward $50 million for its opening night Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n SIFF management said in its email that, in order to not \u201cdisappoint ticket buyers,\u201d nonunion staff will fill in shifts for the opening weekend of \u201cThe Odyssey.\u201d Several Saturday screenings of other movies have been canceled due to the walkout, including Saturday\u2019s 1:30 p.m. showing of \u201cMaddie\u2019s Secret,\u201d the 1:45 showing of \u201cThe Invite\u201d and the 2:15 showing of \u201cGail Daughtry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe apologize to our patrons for the inconvenience, we will reach out to them directly and provide them with vouchers for other screenings,\u201d the SIFF email said. \u201cWe are deeply saddened that (the) Union chose this moment to walk out but we will continue to prioritize the audiences at our theaters.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n