Employees at two unionized Alamo Drafthouse theaters in New York have followed their colleagues in Colorado by going on strike. The staff at the chain’s lower Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn theaters are protesting layoffs that they believe violated labor laws, mirroring a similar walkout at the Sloans Lake location in Colorado.
The strike, organized by Communications Workers of America Local 7777, is in response to what the workers consider unjustified cuts that infringed on labor protections and bargaining practices. They are determined to make their voices heard and maintain their power in the face of corporate decisions.
While Alamo Drafthouse did not provide a comment, an insider close to the company asserted that the layoffs were made independently by the theater chain, not influenced by Sony, their corporate owner. Despite the strike, the Sloans Lake location in Colorado remained open as of Friday.
This labor dispute stems from layoffs that Sony-owned Alamo Drafthouse implemented nationwide in early 2025, affecting both front-line and corporate employees. The union representing New York workers, UAW Local 2179, filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the company of failing to bargain in good faith during contract negotiations.
CWA Local 7777 in Colorado also alleged unlawful practices by the company related to contract negotiation. The union claims that internal data contradicts the need for layoffs, citing optimistic financial outlook and box office projections showing growth in the industry.
The employees’ strike coincides with a busy box office weekend, with films like Captain America: Brave New World and Paddington in Peru expected to perform well. The Marvel Studios movie is projected to earn over $90 million, while the family-friendly Paddington film anticipates bringing in $15-17 million.
The ongoing strike demonstrates a united front by unionized Alamo Drafthouse employees across different locations, emphasizing the importance of fair labor practices and collective bargaining.
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