Protest takes place outside of the 2300 Arena prior to the August 27th 2025 edition of AEW Dynamite
AEW’s residency at the 2300 Arena (formerly ECW Arena) begins with the August 27th 2025 edition of AEW Dynamite. Ahead of tonight’s show, Local 8 Members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) are protesting outside of the building due to the events “failing to meet area standards by paying substandard wages and benefits.”
Here was a statement posted by the IATSE Local No. 8 Facebook page earlier this week…
IATSE Local 8 has been informed that AEW/ 2300 ARENA have scheduled events in the Philadelphia area below the area standards set by IATSE Local 8 for similar work. IATSE Local 8 is investigating the wages, benefits and working conditions under which the employees working this event in our jurisdiction are being paid. It has come to our attention that the wages, benefits and working conditions may be below the prevailing area standard negotiated by IATSE Local 8 in this industry. The standard is as follows:
$ 40.00 Journeyman hourly wages
$ 15% Health & Welfare contribution on gross wages
$ 12% Annuity contribution on gross wages
$ 8% Pension contribution on gross wages
$ 1% Training contribution on gross wages
$ 54.40 All In Total
It is simple economics that the substandard wages, benefits and working conditions that are being paid by AEW/ 2300 ARENA tend to depress the wages, benefits and working conditions negotiated by the union and limit the employment opportunities of workers we represent. In addition, any workers for this event, who are listed as Independent Contractors and paid under 1099, violates the Pennsylvania Construction Workplace Misclassification Act (Act 72). Employers who violate Act 72 can face criminal and administrative penalties, including fines and potential stop-work orders.
This letter is not a request that you enter into collective bargaining with our union or that you refuse to employ any individual or group of individuals nor do we intend to interfere with the rights of your employees to work without becoming members of the union. We do not seek to organize your employees nor does this organization seek to represent them.
If we are incorrect with respect to the current wages, benefits, and working conditions being paid, please advise us immediately and submit documentation of your claim to the below address. In the absence of such change, with supporting documentation, we intend to inform the public that AEW/ 2300 ARENA is undermining area standards and that the labor for this event are receiving substandard wages, benefits and working conditions. The method we use to inform, the public may include handbills and bannering at venues where AEW/ 2300 ARENA have scheduled events.
In this video from Local 8's Facebook page, they explain 2300 Arena is a non-union venue that AEW is choosing to work with. AEW will run 7 events there from tonight through Sept 6. pic.twitter.com/LgevyoNY1c
— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) August 27, 2025