Columbus, Ohio – Technicians employed by Program Productions, responsible for television broadcasts of the Columbus Blue Jackets (National Hockey League), the Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer), and Ohio State University Athletics, have voted overwhelmingly to Unionize with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
Columbus Technicians join a growing number of cities where Broadcast Sports Workers are uniting under the IATSE banner to raise standards and ensure fair treatment across the industry.
The Unit, which includes 100 skilled Workers, performs essential broadcast roles – including camera operation, audio engineering and graphics production.
The Unit began their efforts in 2024, collecting Union Authorization Cards and reaching a majority support by early 2025.
The campaign culminated in a successful election on June 30th, which demonstrated overwhelming support for representation, with 92% of votes cast in favor of the Union.
The win mirrors a similar effort by Sports Broadcast Workers in Cleveland, who Unionized with IATSE two years prior.
“This community of Workers mobilized swiftly and sent a clear message: They would no longer accept falling behind industry standards already secured by Broadcast Technicians nationwide,” IATSE Representative Rachel McLendon said. “Their focus and commitment never wavered.”
IATSE represents more than 170,000 Technicians, Artisans and Crafts-persons in the Entertainment Industry, including live events, motion picture and television production, broadcast and trade shows in the United States and Canada.
To Directly Access This Labor News Story, Go To: Broadcast Techs for Columbus Crew, Blue Jackets, Ohio State Athletics Vote Overwhelmingly to Unionize with IATSE – IATSE
