Minnesota Timberwolves/Lynx In-House Crew Files to Unionize with IATSE Local 745

The in-house audio and video crew for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx at the Target Center has filed for union recognition under the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 745. The crew, comprising approximately 50 members, handles essential technical roles such as operating in-house cameras, replays, video, audio, tape operations, and post-production. After requesting voluntary union recognition on October 28, which went unanswered by Timberwolves management, the union formally filed for a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election. If successful, the Timberwolves/Lynx crew would become Minnesota's second in-house sports group to unionize, following the Minnesota United crew's vote in September 2022.

Crew members point to the need for reliable, inflation-adjusted wage increases as a major motivation for unionizing. Since the Timberwolves' founding in 1989, in-house workers at the Target Center have received only three wage increases. "This group is tired of the uncertainty and sporadic raises," says IATSE Local 745 business representative Charlie Cushing. "With a union, you have a seat at the table, a voice, and an enforceable contract -- you're not just beholden to management's whim."

One of the few wage increases in recent years occurred in 2017 when there was a previous buzz about unionization amongst the crew. As a result, some crew members believe past wage increases were timed to ward off union efforts. Along with wage security, workers are also seeking benefits such as minimum guaranteed call hours and health and retirement benefits.

Past attempts at unionization were met with a full-court press from Timberwolves management. During a 2016 unionization push, Timberwolves leadership asserted that crew members were not employees of the organization but were independent contractors who do not have the right to unionize under the National Labor Relations Act. After the NLRB determined this was not the case, workers were re-classified in 2022 as employees of Minnesota Timberwolves Basketball.

Matthew D. Loeb, international president of the IATSE, indicated that the workers have the full support of the 170,000-member alliance: "The technical skills of in-house crew members are integral to the experience of fans and the team as a whole. This crew deserves the same industry-standard benefits that their union colleagues receive across the various sports leagues, and we'll fight to ensure they get them."

"Our crew is inspired by the success of the union at MN United, and they want that at Target Center, too," says crew member Josiah Wollan.