The Minnesota Timberwolves/Lynx internal team is petitioning IATSE Local 745 for a union

Minneapolis, Minn. – The Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx internal audio and video teams at Target Center have applied for union recognition through the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 745. The approximately 50-strong team takes on key technical roles such as operating in-house cameras, replays, video, audio, tape operations and post-production. After submitting a request for voluntary union recognition on Monday that went unanswered by Timberwolves management, the union officially filed for election to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). If successful, the Timberwolves/Lynx Crew would be Minnesota's second internal 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 primary motivation for unionization. Since the Timberwolves' founding in 1989, Target Center's in-house employees have received only three raises. “This group is tired of the uncertainty and sporadic increases,” said Charlie Cushing, Local 745 Business Representative at IATSE. “With a union, you have a seat at the table, a voice and an enforceable contract – you’re not just beholden to the whims of management.”

One of the few wage increases in recent years came in 2017, when there had previously been rumors of unionization among the crew. As a result, some crew members believe previous pay increases were intended to head off unionization efforts. In addition to wage security, employees also demand benefits such as guaranteed minimum call times as well as health and pension benefits.

Previous attempts at unionization have been met with full court pressure from Timberwolves leadership. During a unionization drive in 2016, Timberwolves leadership claimed that crew members were not, in fact, employees of the organization, but rather 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, the workers were reclassified as employees of Minnesota Timberwolves Basketball in 2022.

Matthew D. Loeb, International President of IATSE, noted that employees enjoy the full support of the 170,000-member alliance: “The technical skills of internal crew members are critical to the experience of fans and the team as a whole. This team deserves the same industry-standard benefits that their union counterparts receive in various sports leagues, and we will fight to ensure they receive them too.”

“Our crew is inspired by the union's success at MN United, and they want the same at Target Center,” said crew member Josiah Wollan.

Internal audio and video employees join forces to maintain essential access to healthcare, retirement benefits, training, rigorous security measures and professional development opportunities. If you are interested in joining the movement, visit iatse.net/join to contact an organizer.