Brooklyn movie theater workers ‘victimized by Barbenheimer’ vote to unionize

Brooklyn movie theater workers who said they were “victimized by Barbenheimer” have voted to unionize — after what they claim was “an aggressive union-busting campaign” from management.

Employees at Nitehawk Cinema in Prospect Park say they’ve had enough of unsafe working conditions, unfair treatment, and being underpaid and overworked at the popular theater. Their concerns became “exacerbated by the whirlwind phenomena of Barbenheimer” last summer, the union said in a statement last month.

Out of over 100 eligible voters, 92 workers participated in the election last week, voting 51-41 in favor of a union, Will Bobrowski, second vice president at UAW Local 2179 told Brooklyn Paper.

Workers at the independent dine-in theater said Barbenheimer, the biggest opening weekend in the cinema’s 12 years of business, was a tipping point for staff, many of whom already felt overwhelmed by the theater’s lackluster post-COVID protocols.

Representatives of the Nitehawk Workers Union told the paper management met their plan to unionize with “an aggressive union-busting campaign.”

“Workers faced a barrage of emails from owner Matthew Viragh filled with scare tactics and blatant misinformation,” the union wrote. “Meanwhile, upper management deployed relentless intimidation & threats against employees across all departments.”

The Nitehawk Workers Union did not return The Post’s request for comment.

Viragh denied union-busting, telling the publication management had “no idea” that anti-union tactics were being used and that management “educated” employees about the union.

“We educated our employees that the Union tried to deprive them of the right to vote. We wanted them to have an election. There was tremendous turnout, which we encouraged,” he said.

Despite the sufficient turnout, Viragh felt 51 votes in favor of the union was not a very strong sign of support.

“It has been a very difficult and divisive process for our business and it’s sad to see so many unhappy employees now,” he said. “There’s really no winner here.”

When workers first announced their plans to unionize, about 70 employees signed union authorization cards but only 51 voted in favor of the union in the election, Bobrowski said, noting it was “still a large margin.”

It will likely take months at least for Nitehawk workers and management to reach their first contract, union officials told the publication.

Nitehawk Cinema’s Williamsburg location is an independent body and not part of the union.

The Post has reached out to Nitehawk Cinemas for comment.