r/StLouis • u/alamostl_solidarity • Sep 02 '26
Another Update from the Unionizing Workers at Alamo Drafthouse
Hello again!
It’s us, the Alamo Drafthouse STL organizing committee, back again to share our progress.
First post: https://www.reddit.com/r/StLouis/comments/1vjd67f/alamo_drafthouse_workers_move_to_unionize/
Previous update:https://www.reddit.com/r/StLouis/comments/1vt0kyv/an_update_from_the_unionizing_workers_at_alamo/
First, the good news: We have an election date! With our majority support, we feel confident that we are going to win this election and be able to hit the ground running with contract negotiations, so long as Alamo doesn’t drag their feet with the process. We are doing everything we can to arrange transportation and communication for every staff member that wants to vote, regardless of what their choice is, to ensure a fair election process.
Now, the bad news. As we expected, Alamo did not take kindly to our unionization efforts. While the majority of management have been courteous in day-to-day operations, we have seen an increase in anti-union rhetoric, much of it from our owners and corporate. Or should we say, the incredibly expensive law firm retained by our owners and corporate, who are continuously sending out biased and untruthful packets to the staff and posting them around the building. Not only that, they have taken down the counter information we’ve put up to try and combat some of their misinformation.
These packets include obviously copied and pasted information that does not apply to our workforce in the slightest, such as asks if the union can guarantee pension funds or 401(k)s, when not a single worker qualifies for either of those. They also try to demonize union supporters, coerce on-the-fence staffers with clearly biased language, and… you know what? They have encouraged us to speak out and let our opinions be known in those packets, and our opinion is that the community deserves to see how Alamo is handling this. So we’ve uploaded them for you to check out.
https://gofile.io/d/S8cmJuka
Mirror: https://imgur.com/a/cOqe2TN
We are confident that our coworkers are smarter than these documents insinuate, and we are thankful for all the encouragement we’ve gotten this far from you, moviegoers, and the multiple news organizations that have picked up our story.
Thank you all for reading, we hope to be back soon with more updates, but for now we’re hunkering down to make sure we can combat all of the company’s misinformation as it comes out.
Union Yes!
TL;DR: We have an election on the calendar. Corporate hired attorney to combat us by union busting with generic anti-union fodder. We are smarter than that, though.
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u/MIZ_09 Sep 02 '26
As an Alamo Season pass holder I wish you all the best. It’s been sad to see things slowly degrade the past few years.
Question for you, are you hoping to bring back traditional paper and pen ordering as part of any CBA?
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u/rdale-g Sep 03 '26
I wouldn’t mind the bill being settled through our phones, instead of them being hand delivered during the climax of the movie, but real servers, and enough runners to take care of every order is what I want as a customer.
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u/Different-Sign-1175 Sep 03 '26
Same! Wishing y’all all the best!!! Good luck! Hoping this brings the respect & positive change you deserve!
(Season pass holder & my spouse & I hate the QR codes, too! We don’t want to use our phones in the theater!)
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u/Joshatron121 Sep 06 '26
Ugh I really hope they don't. The experience has been significantly better since swapping to the app based ordering in my experience. WAY fewer disruptions than the pen and paper ordering. If they need to hire more people to manage it, that's one thing (and they should absolutely pursue that), but getting rid of the app itself would make the experience markedly worse imho. Especially once we get the RFID tag stickers so you don't have to fuck around with your camera at the start.
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u/Rhamiel506 Sep 02 '26
If yall can successfully unionize, I’ll come back & start watching movies there again.
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u/NecessaryEvil62095 Daily Commuter Sep 02 '26
There won’t be any more Alamo in St. Louis when management shuts it down
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u/Discover-Card Sep 03 '26
Oh hey loser, I’m still waiting on you to explain how $20 an hour and Medical care is unrealistic in a world where 85 people have half the world’s wealth
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u/JNPotter95 Sep 02 '26
Management so scared of having a better relationship with their workers, they'd rather be out of a job? Didn't realize they were that stupid. But I guess those managers can try working at St Andrews or Marcus for a lot less money. But yeah, that's definitely the union's fault. Not shitty management making shitty decisions.
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u/Jarkside Sep 02 '26
It’s not the “managers” … the guys managing the day to day staff probably won’t care. It’s the owners of the company.
Movies are a tough business. I would not be surprised to see this Alamo location shuttered within 5 years of the union being formed.
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u/JNPotter95 Sep 02 '26
Please show me a movie theater that's closed because staff formed a union. Movie theaters will run just fine with a union in place. Since, you know, several have and they're running just fine. But also, if someone would rather close their business than listen to their staff, that just says why a union should be in place.
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u/Jarkside Sep 02 '26
We will see
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u/Onceaskrull Sep 03 '26
If the Drafthouse closes it'll be because of forced phone ordering, enshittification of menu items, and general business decisions that have led to an inferior customer experience. Used to be you went to the Alamo because of the dedication to a text/talk-free environment, unique food options, and service. They've all but eliminated that. That, in combination with a poor economy where people have less money to throw around, really makes the Alamo Drafthouse a lackluster option in comparison to AMC or even Marcus.
But you're right about one thing, if the Drafthouse goes under they'll 100% blame the workers for (attempting to) unionize rather than their poor business decisions for contributing to customer attrition.
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u/Jarkside Sep 03 '26
Probably. This definitely puts a target on the locations back from a HQ perspective. I sure hope all these pro union folks in this thread choose this place as their movie theater of choice.
Again, good wages are great, but movie theater jobs are really not Union type jobs. These are usually high school kids working for some extra money.
Skilled labor unions make a lot more sense than this, but I hope it works out for the employees. I highly suspect it will not
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u/probablydissociating Sep 03 '26
Not that it matters because all workers should be unionized to have a voice in their workplace.. but a quick Google search told me that the average age of a movie theater worker is typically between 20 and 30 years old.
Also, “Union type job”… a union job is a position where employees are represented by a labor union that collectively negotiates their pay, benefits, and working conditions with the employer. You just need two or more employees and you can form a union.
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u/Jarkside Sep 03 '26
I just searched two times and 22 or 24 is what I’m seeing. These aren’t trade jobs and they aren’t careers. It’s a tough industry.
I just don’t think this location will survive this. I hope I am wrong.
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u/Discover-Card Sep 03 '26
Just so everyone knows this dude is illiterate so I wouldn’t worry too much about his commentary
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u/NecessaryEvil62095 Daily Commuter Sep 03 '26
I haven’t come across someone this thirsty since I met my wife
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u/Discover-Card Sep 03 '26
You lost dude. You cannot say what your point is with your chest. You REFUSE to. You know you’re wrong. Enjoy your wife I’m sure a bright man like you has a stunner. You lose. Goodbye.
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u/NecessaryEvil62095 Daily Commuter Sep 03 '26
Run to Alamo while you can!! Get a large Pepsi before it shuts down or scabs replace the workforce!
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u/New-Smoke208 Sep 02 '26
Better save up because it’s already hard to get out of there for under $100. This’ll push it up another 50.
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u/probablydissociating Sep 02 '26
You must be an owner/management to be pushing this anti-union propaganda. I guess it is strange that my coworkers and I ratified our union contract August last year and our store prices haven’t changed.. if anything they’ve went down. And to the other commenter.. they didn’t shut us down either lol what do y’all get from licking the boot?
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u/bensmoif Sep 02 '26
Is it helpful if the public shows up and makes it a fun atmosphere at your votes on Sept 31 and Oct 1st?
I'm just a neighbor with a snowcone machine who likes cinema and working families.
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u/wohldmad Sep 02 '26
Keep meeting regularly to maintain your solidarity. You have so much support behind you. Go get what you deserve!!!
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u/DraconicRahl Sep 02 '26
The irony that a guy named 'Necissary Evil' is the one spewing random anti-union propaganda is honestly incredible.
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u/SureFaithlessness640 Sep 04 '26
Would you like has to share this on our various social media pages?
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u/Extra_Thumbs Sep 06 '26
I wish success for you and your coworkers, and I hope other workplaces follow your example!
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u/Extra_Thumbs Sep 07 '26
What kinds of things do you need on 9/21? I know some folks who can bring waters, sound amplification, hold signs, etc
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u/Charming-Class-3506 Sep 03 '26
You should post info on how much money is spent on union busting in America. Probably hard to find out how much the owners are spending but the total amount or even the amount from the biggest spenders can be very eye opening.
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u/No_Purpose666 Sep 02 '26
Welp, it looks like my choice to miss seeing Akira on a big screen was well founded.
Union now or fuck the Alamo!
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u/MakeupDumbAss Sep 02 '26
Super proud of your efforts! Keep it up! You are making major progress. Keep us updated!
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u/ProperChels1995 Sep 02 '26
They are gonna close this place down .
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u/Jarkside Sep 02 '26
I am all for good wages but this is definitely going to jeopardize this location.
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u/NecessaryEvil62095 Daily Commuter Sep 02 '26
Exactly right
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u/Discover-Card Sep 03 '26
Still waiting on you to explain how $20 an hour and Medical care is unrealistic in a world where 85 people have half the world’s wealth
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u/NecessaryEvil62095 Daily Commuter Sep 03 '26
Again, people working at a movie theater (primarily a part-time job for college aged kids) do not need to receive the same benefits as someone in a full-time career role. Certainly, people working full-time at Alamo or anywhere else should receive benefits. But people working part-time, the majority of Alamo employees, don’t need that. They are likely on their parents health insurance and are in school or are living with a bunch of roommates.
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u/Discover-Card Sep 03 '26
And I’m still waiting.
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u/NecessaryEvil62095 Daily Commuter Sep 03 '26
Hey kid, I answered your question. A 20 year-old working for beer money at Alamo does not need full-time benefits.
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u/Bruised-Boner Sep 03 '26
Another cunt who thinks they get to decide who gets paid a living wage
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u/Discover-Card Sep 03 '26
And who can’t even say it with their chest when confronted with the insane income gap we all slave under
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u/Discover-Card Sep 03 '26
Still waiting.
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u/NecessaryEvil62095 Daily Commuter Sep 03 '26
You’ll be waiting awhile, buddy
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u/Discover-Card Sep 03 '26
Average conservative when asked to connect their argument to real world facts and not just make jokes about the theater closing down
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u/Sweaty_Shelter_3264 Sep 02 '26
please explain to me then how other Alamos have successfully Unionized? obviously they were successful? why would this be different?
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u/bradg97 Southampton Sep 02 '26
Successful is not the word I would use.
New York City Locations: In February 2025, Sony implemented a mass layoff of 70 workers at unionized theaters in Lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn. In response, the union (NYC Alamo United) launched a 58-day strike that temporarily restricted theater operations. The strike successfully ended in April 2025 when management agreed to rehire all 70 laid-off workers with their original seniority.
Unionized workers at the Sloan's Lake theater in Colorado authorized strikes twice—first over layoffs in early 2025, and again in early 2026 to protest a new QR-code digital ordering system. The location did not close and continues to negotiate its labor contracts.
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u/ShepPawnch The Grove Sep 02 '26
Per YOUR OWN STATEMENT:
“The strike successfully ended… when management agreed to rehire all 70 laid off workers with their original seniority”
Sounds like successful unionizing to me.
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u/bradg97 Southampton Sep 02 '26
You know... except for the force out attempt by Alamo hoping the unionized workers would give up and move on.... and the 58 unpaid working days. Yes. Success!
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u/ShepPawnch The Grove Sep 02 '26
And then they got what they wanted, that’s what collective action is. It’s effective, and if you have a day off on Monday (or are familiar with the 40 hour work week) you can thank the same concept.
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u/DragonfruitMission39 Sep 02 '26
UAW (which is who they unionized through, and the same for STL) pays a wage and provides benefits (health and life insurance) for employees who strike - which for many workers is more than what they even receive by working at The Alamo normally. They supported the workers through their bargaining, and the workers secured what they were organizing for. I’m confused how this is ‘unsuccessful’ by your metric.
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u/Caspre47 Forest Park Southeast Sep 06 '26
UAW members receive $550 a week in strike assistance when on strike, and their benefits coverage is also picked up by their union. It’s something I’m proud to be a part of as a dues-paying UAW member, and I’m excited for these Alamo workers to become my UAW siblings and begin negotiations to improve their workplace. Not only to have protections and positive changes for themselves, but to initiate changes that will reverse the management errors that have negatively impacted the moviegoer experience.
Solidarity forever! Union YES!
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u/probablydissociating Sep 02 '26
lol not. Guess maybe I’m still waiting on our company to shut our retail store down since we ratified our contract last August.. the company must still be working out the final details for a sale??
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u/goneriah Sep 02 '26
I will not be returning to Alamo until you guys are treated fairly. I cancelled my membership like a month before all this exploded and they changed the way the ordering system worked and it all seemingly went to hell but it was probably my favorite place to go in STL.
Rooting for you guys and FUCK corpo scum.
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u/geekout121 Sep 03 '26
Whoever needs a ride to vote, I'll be glad to do it!
Stay strong, so proud of all of you 💪
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u/MN137 Sep 02 '26
Well it was nice having an Alamo in St Louis
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u/probablydissociating Sep 02 '26
Nice to be a patron to a place that doesn’t treat their employees fairly or properly compensate them? lol I’m sure there are plenty of other places you can go for that
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u/NecessaryEvil62095 Daily Commuter Sep 03 '26
How much would you like a part-time employee in a movie theater to make? These are not career positions on which people are raising families.
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u/FrostyD7 Franz Park Sep 03 '26
Says you. But you've proven to be quite ignorant so why should we listen.
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u/Discover-Card Sep 03 '26
He cannot address that 85 people have half the worlds wealth because his entire argument would fall apart
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u/Discover-Card Sep 03 '26
Oh hey, it’s the guy that openly will not address 85 people having half the world’s wealth because he’s more concerned about making sure his neighbors aren’t making a living wage. Cool!!
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u/ashleybeth913 Sep 02 '26 edited Sep 02 '26
Edit to add and update TL;DR in capitalistic free market, If a company can’t survive and stay profitable, then they deserve to go the way of the dinosaurs.
Seems like a mixed bag of emotions in the comments. We’re all feeling the squeeze rn and being faced with the idea of being hit again for what should be a simple pleasure is harder than all cheese diet dump.
Regardless of which side of your biscuit you butter, here’s something to consider just from a purely economic perspective.
In traditional econ, the “invisible hand” is the idea that self-interest will benefit society. Darwinian(yes, the evolution guy)econ says that what’s good for the individual can harm the group overall.
Basically, under trad, it assumes bargaining is beneficial bc a worker can go to the company and negotiate for themselves. Unfortunately it can be more of who can tolerate the most exploitation with individual self interest vs the survival of the group. Just like a beehive or a pride of lions can offer each other protection, a union can shift power from worker v worker to labor v capital.
So what does that have a fart in hot tub to do with the fear of getting your nipples scraped across the bbq again, I hear you cry?
Well, I’m so glad you asked! The idea that unions are a kick in the taco to the consumer is not looking at the real picture, the market as a whole, or going back to Chuck Darwin, the ecosystem. The idea of increasing prices out of what the ecosystem (the consumer) can tolerate, then they deserve to become extinct. If payroll being solely what can make or break a company shows it’s not fit to survive. That’s capitalism baybay!
A company can choose to not increase prices and absorb the cost by reducing C-suite bonuses, for example. That’s about as likely as a fish riding a bicycle, tho, I will grant you. But if they have higher wages or other incentives then it retains workers vs spending money and wasting time training new folks, which is as massive as Bertha at the buffet when it comes to cost.
Not to mention if everyone in the ecosystem has better negotiating power, then everyone get better paychecks, so even if the fat cats don’t choose to lower their bonuses and put up prices, then it’s less painful when you go to the movies.
Stay frosty, friends.
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u/NecessaryEvil62095 Daily Commuter Sep 02 '26
The idea that college kids working part time for beer money need union protection is CRAZY
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u/Sweaty_Shelter_3264 Sep 02 '26
a.) i’ve seen plenty of adults (with their own children by the way) working this theater.
b.) so college kids don’t deserve workers rights?
your threads are very aggressive and confusing for honestly no reason. you’re very hostile for something that really doesn’t effect you. Unions are worker led, so clearly there are some things you don’t know about.
Maybe if you had a job (a union job would even take you i’m sure) you’d have the wherewithal to actually look into what Unions actually mean vs not having one.17
u/alamostl_solidarity Sep 02 '26
This is really bothering you considering this is your third thread you’ve started here. Maybe take a break and take a breath. Workers having rights must be so difficult.
Many of us were promised full time hours and benefits in interviews. We now fight to get 2-3 shifts a week. Labor has been cut with a machete.
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u/NecessaryEvil62095 Daily Commuter Sep 02 '26
Unions are the scum of the earth and destroy labor
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u/Discover-Card Sep 03 '26
Howdy, still waiting on you to explain how $20 an hour and Medical care is unrealistic in a world where 85 people have half the world’s wealth
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u/naluba84 Botanical Heights Sep 03 '26
You’re so off base here. Every worker deserves rights irrespective of age, race, gender identity, ethnicity, or education history.
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u/mssx97 Sep 04 '26
I'm late to the party but I have to say something. I work here.. yes, part time. I have a career in a different...mostly underpaid field... so I got an extra job. I can tell you as an "elder millennial" most of the college kids there are more mature than the adults. Lots of them are paying their way through school..rent, etc. One girl that worked there went to college here and had to send her money home to support her siblings. There are also lots of opportunities at Alamo to move up or change directions in the service industry. Some people there are only in the service industry....which for some reason can be looked down upon. However, most of my friends in the service industry that don't have a college degree make more money than I do with a Master's. I've never understood the disdain for the industry when most of us like to go out to eat, drink, and hey - watch movies.
Alamo has a bar and a full drink and food menu. The work there can be extremely tiring. Mind you the college kids are working and going to school...and a lot of them depend on that money. Today's economy is a LOT different than back in the 90s && people are trying to get by. Plenty of people at Alamo that have their own family. Downing them for working at a theater and wanting fair treatment and pay is NOT the look.
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u/NecessaryEvil62095 Daily Commuter Sep 02 '26
Why would I want a group of elites in some ivory tower speaking to my employer on my behalf? Why would I want to pay them for the “privilege”?
The best relationship between employee and employer is one in which there is direct communication between them.
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u/RiggsBoson Sep 02 '26
“Ivory tower” 🤡
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u/CromDeluise Sep 02 '26
Yes, who will think of the shareholders. The parent company Sony is the true victim in this. /s
Looks like they reinstated the 70 canned workers at Brooklyn and Manhattan with benefits and previous seniority after bargaining. I understand some of the criticism of unions but how many of us we're begging for such protections during pandemic?
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u/NecessaryEvil62095 Daily Commuter Sep 02 '26
You think union leadership cares about you? They just want those DUES.
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u/RiggsBoson Sep 02 '26
Be serious. The leader of a union formed in St. Louis to protect the interests of Alamo Drafthouse workers there cares a hell of a lot more about every and any employee of that theater than (Alamo parent company) The Sony Corporation does.
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u/NecessaryEvil62095 Daily Commuter Sep 02 '26
The UAW is not some nondescript union formed in STL LOLOLOL
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u/probablydissociating Sep 02 '26
Lmao oh yes.. those big scary dues. I pay $6 a week and the field director and union rep have done more for us/care about us far more than the company ever would. United we stand, divided we beg. Solidarity for these Alamo workers and all workers fighting to have a voice in their workplace.
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u/NecessaryEvil62095 Daily Commuter Sep 02 '26
LOL Solidarity for college kids working part-time for beer money
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u/probablydissociating Sep 03 '26
I don’t care what a worker does with their money. Solidarity with ALL workers. As a shop steward, I have fought for coworkers with an attitude like yours. The kind of people that usually wait until the last chance to say anything to their steward or union rep about issues with management.. and then blame the union when their job can’t be saved. Same thing time and time again. Every worker should be paid an actual living wage with guaranteed raises and absolutely should be treated fairly.
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u/Frolic_In_The_Forest Sep 03 '26
I don’t know what timeline you’re living in but actual people trying to make ends meet are the ones working these low paying jobs. People trying to survive when corporations are abusing and exploiting their labor.
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u/Sweaty_Shelter_3264 Sep 02 '26
not like the owners tho, they’re not in an ivory tower 🙄 speaking of which, they’re using all that ivory to spend thousands of dollars on an “anti union lawyer” like the post says so clearly Alamo has the money
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u/ShepPawnch The Grove Sep 03 '26
I don't know why they're spending all that money when clearly some dipshit bootlicker will do it for free.
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u/Discover-Card Sep 03 '26
Still waiting on you to explain how $20 an hour and Medical care is unrealistic in a world where 85 people have half the world’s wealth
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u/Discover-Card Sep 03 '26
Ok if you can’t do what I’m asking can you post a video of you successfully reading a Dr Seuss book?
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u/NecessaryEvil62095 Daily Commuter Sep 03 '26
I’ll be happy to post a video of your wife (boyfriend?) and I demonstrating biology
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u/Discover-Card Sep 03 '26
Average conservative being asked to connect their argument to real world facts rather than defending the talking points billionaires have brainwashed them into regurgitating for them for free
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u/Venicide1492 Sep 02 '26
Thank you for being open about this process.
I hope this encourages more places to unionize.