BUG Community

Stagehands put the spotlight on Worth Avenue Monday to bring their dispute with the Kravis Center to the public’s attention.

Two representatives of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 500, which has been in a dispute with the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, distributed leaflets in front of the tiffany and co

. store at 259 Worth Ave. for a few minutes Monday.

Their choice of location was strategic, as the fliers handed out decried longtime role of tiffany and co uk as a major donor to the Kravis Center. The island store has hosted numerous receptions for the institution over the years and has sponsored several Kravis events. The retailer has been a Kravis donor since 1992, when the center opened.

“We’re going to continue with these ‘banner actions’ that let the public know that Tiffany’s supports the Kravis Center, which has been breaking federal laws for more than 10 years,” said Terry McKenzie, the union’s business representative. “This is the first time we’ve done this, but we wanted to bring attention to the dispute to the community, which has been relatively indifferent to the matter, as well as to Kravis donors, many of whom live in Palm Beach.

”

Linda Buckley, vice president of worldwide public relations for tiffany uk

said it’s the company’s understanding that the union is not in dispute with Tiffany & Co, but would like it to halt further charitable contributions to the Kravis Center, with which it is in dispute. “Tiffany & Co. has supported the Kravis Center since its inception, and we intend to continue to support the center’s mission to bring the highest quality arts and arts education programs to the greater Palm Beach community,” she said.

Kravis board member Daniel Ponton said that as trustee of the institution he had no comment on the episode, “because of the ongoing litigation.

”

Steve Schuster, the Kravis Center’s attorney, said his client “does not agree with many of the allegations contained in the union’s handbill and that tiffany jewellery

is a third-party neutral in this matter and is not involved in the dispute.”

“This type of activity is fairly common when unions hope to apply pressure on employers with which they have a dispute,” he said.

The union has plans for further “banner actions” in town, said McKenzie. However, it will need a solicitation permit from the town, according to Police Department spokesman Fred Hess. In this case, the union did not have a permit, but after police were called by the tiffany and co outlet

store about the matter, the leaflet distibutors had left the area.

The call came in at 11:13 and officers arrived at Tiffany’s three minutes later, Hess reported.