What Happened When the Skating Coaches Wanted a Union

[el henry]

Article from the New York Times about the skating coaches at Chelsea Piers (gifted, no paywall):

What Happened When the Skating Coaches Wanted a Union

A group of figure skating coaches at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan, many of whom earn less than $40,000 a year, sought to bargain their contracts collectively. Two were fired.

www.nytimes.com

 

[ladyjane]

How sad that being part of a union is still a firing issue in some places. The fired ones themselves are more nuanced but it feels a lot like it. A shame. You don't have to agree with unions to understand their important role to voice employees' opinions, whether it's coaches or otherwise. I often don't agree, but still acknowledge their importance.

 

[auser]

Article from the New York Times about the skating coaches at Chelsea Piers (gifted, no paywall):

What Happened When the Skating Coaches Wanted a Union

A group of figure skating coaches at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan, many of whom earn less than $40,000 a year, sought to bargain their contracts collectively. Two were fired.

www.nytimes.com

Thank you for gifting this @el henry. Much appreciated.

 

[Mathman]

Here is the coach, Angela Chiang, performing with the Ice Theater of New York at Rockefeller Center a few years ago. (OT They must have a really, really good outdoor sound system -- this masterful aria comes across just fine.)

Angela Chiang: 2017 ITNY Rockefeller Center Concert Series

Ice Theatre of New York Rockefeller Center Concert Series 3/16/2017"O Mio Babbino Caro"Music by: Giacomo PucciniChoreography: Douglas WebsterPerformed by: An...

www.youtube.com

Evidently Ms. Chiang has always carved out her own path. Her parents sent her to a fancy boarding school that had an acclained ice skating program. She soon rebelled and enrolled at a public high school, where she promptly joined the boys hockey team.