Paul Bronfman Hires Rival Toronto Union Reps

TORONTO – Long-standing competition between Toronto’s two biggest technician unions on who secures which Hollywood movie and TV shoots has come to a surprise climax: Their top bosses are joining studio and equipment supply giant Comweb Corp.

Rick Perotto, business rep for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 667 becomes vp of business development at Comweb and William F. White International.

And David Hardy, business agent for NABET 700 CEP, a rival technicians union in Toronto, will serve as vp of client services at Comweb/WFW.

“Both Rick and David are highly respected industry veterans who will be a tremendous asset to our management team,” Comweb/WFW chairman and CEO Paul Bronfman said in a statement.

Toronto in recent years has known labor peace, adding to its appeal with Hollywood producers.

But a decade earlier, IATSE launched an aggressive raid on NABET 700 members to make Toronto a one-card town.

The larger Communications, Energy and Paperworker’s Union of Canada (CEP) next set the IATSE local back on its heels by bringing NABET 700 under its wing.

That was then.

Today, Perotto will join Comweb/WFW after 13 years with IATSE Local 667, and lead the company’s business development nationwide.

And Hardy, who led NABET 700 CEP for 10 years, will oversee client services at Comweb/WFW.

Besides heading up Canada’s biggest production equipment supply company, Bronfman is also chairman of Pinewood Toronto Studios.