yes and: chicago has a fair first contract

UPDATE 1/20/2024:

AICE Chicago members have ratified a 3-year contract for Teachers, Music Directors, and Facilitators.

Thank you to the public (and our students) for your support: after 700 days of negotiations, a rejected “Last Best and Final” offer, a strike authorization, and an 11th hour 13-hour bargaining session; we definitely couldn’t have done this without you.

An Open Letter to Second City Leadership

〰️

An Open Letter to Second City Leadership 〰️

April 17, 2024

Dear Second City Leadership:

We are writing in support of the recent motion from the faculty in the newly-minted New York location, for Second City to voluntarily recognize them as their own Union with the United Federation of Teachers, as a part of AICE along with their sister unions in Chicago and Toronto.

In light of the recent successful agreements between The Second City and AICE Chicago and AICE Toronto, it seems the clear, fair, and natural choice to also include representation for our colleagues in New York.

As such, we respectfully encourage Second City to simplify the process and voluntarily recognize this talent as its own Union.

Many thanks for your consideration,
The Members of AICE Chicago

View fullsize On Jan 20 2024, AICE Chicago ratified a 3-year contract with #secondcity leadership. After 2 full years of bargaining, this chapter is finally at a close. This contract would NOT have happened without the surge of public support from our students, p
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View fullsize Until we have a fair first contract in hand, we’re on strike in 4 days at 12:01am on Tues, Jan 16. #secondcity CEO Ed Wells is fibbing in the press: “31% raise over the agreement’s 3-year term”, when he should say “31%
View fullsize We need your support! We go on strike at 12:01am on Tues Jan 16 if we don’t have an agreed upon fair first contract in hand. But you can help! 1) contact #thesecondcity directly and actually say or write the words “I support AICE Union m
View fullsize 6 days until AICE members go on strike at #secondcity #chicago. SC leadership should return to the bargaining table, and agree to a fair first contract. An FAQ page is now on our website (link in bio) as a place for you to submit your strike-rela
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View fullsize Ask us again in 24 hours. . . . #thesecondcity #improv #improvisation #sketch #comedy #chicago #hollywood #newyorkcity #toronto @iftaft
View fullsize Here’s a question for you: will #SecondCity #Chicago teachers, music directors, and facilitators go on strike? Link in bio, and more info on our website. Thanks to @kerrymreid and @chicago_reader for covering this story after SC leadership cho
View fullsize Attention AICE members: big updates coming this weekend. We’ll need everyone in attendance. Check your email for info on joining one of our two Membership Meeting opportunities this weekend. In the meantime, we continue to invite #secondcit
View fullsize #thesecondcity leadership’s approach to union negotiation. We voted “NO” vote to their “last best and final” offer. #secondcity leadership, please do your job and return to the bargaining table. . . . #improv #impro
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View fullsize Will #thesecondcity leadership return to the bargaining table? We’re waiting on you, #secondcity leadership. Second City leadership should do better. We’ll tag their union busting law firm @huschblackwell, maybe they’ll let them k
View fullsize #secondcity leadership brags they’ve attended 35 bargaining sessions over the last 700 days, but we remember when they weren’t showing up at all. Just like now, as they refuse to schedule any further bargaining dates. #thesecondcity lea
View fullsize #secondcity claims “We have a long, proud history of working with all seven of our current union partners.” Well let’s ask #thesecondcity actors! @secondcityworkers, how were your most recent negotiations with Second City’s u
View fullsize As they say on that show: “This is the way.” (At least, it is for this student, who gave us permission to repost this screenshot) Students may have noticed the Training Center delayed the usual online end-of-term evaluations instead of
View fullsize In this (fake) episode: Kramer accidentally ends up running a private equity firm. George finds a legal loophole to stretch Yankee union negotiations for another year. Elaine creates a one-woman picket line in front of her least favorite bakery. We
View fullsize Get it? We hope #secondcity leadership will change their minds and agree to another bargaining session, given that their “LBF” was not accepted by our #Chicago team at the table. AICE members: we’ll have an opportunity to discuss

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also in the news:

WBEZ’s “Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons”: Second City teachers on landing a contract with pay increases, ‘succession’ clause

i want to support. What can I do?

1 )Follow us on social media: Instagram @AICEUnion tag us with a message of support. Pics, videos, words, and bits are welcome.

2) Contact Second City directly and actually say/write the words “I support AICE Union members.”

  1. Second City Chicago Main Line: 312-337-3992

  2. Second City Chicago Training Center Main Line: 312-664-3959

the story so far (or at least, the highlights)

Over 700 days ago, employees in Chicago, Toronto, and Los Angeles all voted YES for the Association of International Comedy Educators to represent us as a union; and notified our employer, The Second City.

In January 2022, AICE entered into negotiations with Second City in Chicago, Toronto, Hollywood.

500 days later, Second City leadership had stopped showing up altogether for agreed-upon negotiating dates, going 3 straight months as 'no-call no-shows’. On Day 500, AICE held a picketing rally outside of Second City Chicago to remind leadership of its obligation to bargain in good faith, and leadership began (partially) showing up again.

In June 2023, AICE Hollywood (CWA 9505) members were put in serious jeopardy by the announcement that Second City will no longer be seeking a brick and mortar space in LA. (CWA is currently engaged in litigation against Second City as the remaining virtual LA members join the Chicago local)

In September 2023, Toronto reached an agreement with Second City leadership, giving most teachers a 25% pay increase. (Toronto has a lower cost of living and more labor laws protecting workers). Second City also officially announced the opening of Second City New York in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

On December 13, 2023—on the 700th day since negotiations began—Second City leadership chose to walk away from the bargaining table, refusing to schedule further negotiating dates, and offering a “last best and final” offer which was not accepted by our bargaining team and voted down by our membership.

On January 8, 2024, AICE’s bargaining team notified Second City leadership of a strike to commence in Chicago beginning Tuesday, January 16, and continuing until an agreed-upon fair first contract is in hand. After a surge of support from sudents, the public, and other Second City employees, Second City leadership agreed to return to the bargaining table; where after a 13-hour marathon bargaining session, a first contract was agreed upon with AICE’s bargaining team.

On January 20, 2024, AICE Chicago members voted to ratify a 3-year collective agreement with a 93% “YES” vote with 85% of members voting.

In January 2024, Second City opened its first franchise under its ownership of ZMC, the private equity firm that now owns Second City. Strauss Zelnick, ZMC’s CEO, has a net worth of over $340 million.

In April 2024, AICE Chicago members called on Second City leadership to acknowledge NYC’s faculty as a Union with the United Federation of Teachers.

what is aice?
who makes up aice?

The educators of The Second City have unionized to guarantee equitable and just working conditions for all The Second City teachers and facilitators in Chicago, Hollywood (now shuttered), and Toronto. Through our union, the Association of International Comedy Educators (AICE), we seek to establish a working environment that prioritizes health & accessibility, diversity & inclusivity, fair compensation, and reasonable employment terms.