Unionized cinema workers at the Seattle International Film Festival walked off their shifts Friday, briefly disrupting showtimes while SIFF kept its theaters running. The action hit SIFF Cinema Downtown shortly before a sold-out 3 p.m. 70mm screening of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and led SIFF to cancel several matinee screenings at Uptown, issuing refunds to affected ticket-holders. Union leaders said they planned to continue collective action through Saturday evening.
In a statement, SIFF said 13 union-member cinema workers walked off their shifts and that bargaining over a new contract has been underway since late January. The previous collective-bargaining agreement expired on April 22, and SIFF said it had offered an extension before the expiry that union leadership declined. Talks had recently made “significant progress,” particularly on wages, according to KOMO. SIFF told reporters that non-union staff would cover affected shifts so scheduled screenings, including the 70mm run of The Odyssey at SIFF Cinema Downtown, could proceed, while some Uptown matinees were canceled and ticket-holders refunded. For showtimes and venue details, SIFF directed patrons to its Downtown and Uptown listings on SIFF.
Union Alleges Bad-Faith Bargaining
The SIFF Cinema Workers Union said the walkout was authorized by a majority of its members and accused SIFF of dragging its feet at the bargaining table, saying it has filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, according to The Stranger. Union chair Adrienne Tippins told the outlet that members viewed SIFF's latest management proposals as regressive compared with the contract ratified in 2024, raising particular concerns about proposed cuts to staffing, sick time and healthcare.
Festival Pressure and Staffing Context
The dispute is unfolding against a backdrop of staffing instability and organizational changes at SIFF that local outlets have documented this year, including layoffs and venue shifts as the festival returned, according to KUOW. The union was certified in 2023 by the National Labor Relations Board as the bargaining representative for front-of-house floor staff, per the NLRB, which helps explain why members are pushing for a fresh deal now.
What Patrons Should Know
SIFF says its theaters will remain open and that refunds have been issued for canceled shows. Patrons with tickets are being urged to check in with the box office or consult venue updates for the latest information, as management says contingency staffing will be used if the walkout continues, according to SIFF. The episode underscores the tension between keeping high-profile festival programming on schedule and negotiating pay and staffing levels that employees say would help stabilize year-round operations.
