Workers of the Live-event-company „36 Stage XL GmbH“ are confronting their management about unsafe working conditions. The self-organized workplace group within the labour union FAU Berlin is demanding improvements regarding workplace safety and stable contracts. So far the only response from 36 Stage XL is silence.
A big part of the staff is working on a frame-work contract called ‘Unständige Beschäftigung’. Germán G., one of the workers explains to this:
“We never know how much money we will have at the end of the month. There is no guarantee of hours. There is no consistent health insurance, no paid holidays, no paid sick leave.”
A spokes person of the FAU Berlin states:
“We are under the impression that these kind of contracts are possibly illegal. This is why we plan to challenge them in court.”
In addition employees of 36 Stage XL are facing other dangers as well: Vojta C. a former worker highlights:
“Our health has been put at risk all the time. I don’t know anyone, who got a safety training or paid protective equipment. There were several severe accidents, and almost no one got a compensation for their workplace injuries.”
Workers have reached out to the employer to change the situation before, without noticable effect. Two years ago they started to organize collectively as a Betriebsgruppe in the FAU Berlin.
“The FAU Berlin expects 36 Stage XL to immediately fulfill our demands and put an end to instability and health risk for their employees”
explains a spokes person of the FAU Berlin.
36 Stage XL is employing more than 100 stagehands who are building stages for some of the most famous venues in Berlin like Uber Arena and Olympiastadion and for well know artists like Marilyn Manson, Lady Gaga or Katy Perry. The daily work routine consists of lifting and carrying heavy stage equipment.
We are happy to facilitate contact with workers at 36 Stage XL. For this and for further inquiries, please contact our press number: 015792367310.
Key demands
- Compliance with legal requirements (including: timely and full payment of wages, payment for vacation and sick leave, measures to ensure workplace safety)
- The right for all employees to a permanent employment contract beyond a mini-job contract
- A wage increase of 2.50 euros per hour
- Protection against discrimination and harassment in the workplace
- Coverage of travel costs to and from the work site
Timeline
Summer 2023: First lawsuit against 36 Stage XL about a dismissal of an FAU-member
May 2024: Establishment of the workplace group
June 2025: Website „Stage Workers United“ goes online
December 2025: A FAU member gets fired after it claimed missing wages in court
6th of Feb., 2026: First Letter of demands sent to management, asking for negotiations and
adressing issues such as unsafe working conditions, precarious contracts
and unstable health insurance
20th of Feb., 2026: Second Letter of demands sent, asking again for negotiations and announcing the release of demands to all employees as well as to the public
9th of March, 2026: Open letter sent to all employees
11th of March, 2026: Third letter sent to management, informing about the Open Letter and reiter-
ating the will to negotiate
30th of March: Informing the public about the labour conflict
Contact: faub-sxl@fau.org
More information:
https://stageworkersunited.wordpress.com
instagram.com/stage_workers_united/