The union filed an unfair labor practice (ULP) charge with the National Labor Relations Board this week — its second such complaint against SIFF this year — alleging that management “unilaterally suspended the bargaining process.” According to SCWU, no progress has been made since the summer, when the two sides appeared to be moving toward a deal.

“SIFF unilaterally suspended the bargaining process,” the union said in a statement, adding that management abruptly canceled a bargaining session scheduled for last month just hours before it was set to begin. No further meetings have been scheduled.

The breakdown marks a sharp reversal from late August, when union members expressed cautious optimism after receiving what they described as a fair response from management. That optimism followed a walkout by SCWU members ahead of sold-out 70mm screenings of “The Odyssey” at SIFF Cinema Downtown. At the time, the union said it had provided SIFF with a proposal on the remaining contract issues and granted management extra time to respond.

Instead, the union says, SIFF has failed to offer a counterproposal and has stopped engaging altogether.

A SIFF spokesperson declined to discuss the specifics of the negotiations, saying only that “there are next steps in the process but that is a conversation between the SCWU and SIFF, so we have no further comment at this time.” The organization has previously said it is “committed to good faith bargaining,” citing 21 bargaining sessions held as of August.

Regarding the ULP charge, the spokesperson said, “SIFF welcomes the NLRB review of the ULP complaint as we are confident that they will find it baseless.” Asked why the organization was confident the charge would be dismissed — and whether it felt the same about the first ULP, which the NLRB has yet to rule on — the spokesperson declined to comment.

Beyond the stalled negotiations, the union alleges that management retaliated against a member of its bargaining team by issuing a “final warning” in a single disciplinary meeting, skipping the progressive discipline steps outlined in the contract.

“They gave this individual a ‘final warning’ within one disciplinary meeting, which violates the disciplinary rules set up in the contract,” said Nico Hall, a SCWU member and bargaining team member. “The contract requires SIFF to gradually move an employee up several stages of discipline. Instead, SIFF has skipped through this process and placed this employee’s livelihood at risk.”

SIFF denied the allegation. “SIFF has not taken retaliatory action against any employee,” the spokesperson said, adding that the organization “follows all internal processes as delineated in our employee handbook as well as the processes laid out in the agreement with the Union.” The spokesperson said SIFF does not comment on personnel matters.

The union has also raised concerns about transparency, accusing SIFF of “outright refusal to respond to a request for information regarding budgetary data.”

SCWU has not called for a boycott of SIFF or its theaters — which include SIFF Cinema Downtown, SIFF Cinema Uptown, and SIFF Film Center — but said it would welcome support from customers who choose to take that step.

“If SIFF customers feel motivated to boycott SIFF in response to their egregious mishandling of the bargaining process, SCWU would appreciate that support, especially if said customers send a message to SIFF warning them that their actions are losing business for the organization,” the union said.

The dispute comes during what has otherwise been a strong year for independent cinema in Seattle, with new operators stepping in to revive historic venues. But for the workers at SIFF’s cinemas, the lack of a contract and the stalled talks have cast a shadow over the year.

The union says it is “actively discussing next steps.” The NLRB has not yet ruled on either ULP charge.