From arlo.net:

Dated: July 28, 1997

July 10, 1997

Friends,

I received many letters from friends in the Buffalo area before and after our show at Darien Lakes - Concerning the lock-outof IATSE local 10 - stage hands.

I received a letter from IATSE local 10 the night before my scheduled appearance asking me to refuse to play the venue.IATSE local 10 is trying to represent all the workers at Darien Lakes in order to negotiate a contract from Metropolitan (the company that owns the venue). Most of the stage hands at Darien Lakes have elected to work under the present conditions because they are satisfied that it is a fair and honest deal. I have received a letter to that effect signed by all of the stage hands. They have rejected IATSE local 10's action, they feel they will lose the jobs they've had all along if IATSE local 10gets a contract with Metropolitan.

Given the short time I've had to look into this, I'm pretty sure that I don't know what is actually going on. But I do know this: If IATSE local 10 represented the stage hands at Darien Lakes and they had asked me not to perform, there is no way we have gone ahead with the show. I support IASTE local 10's effort to organize the workers at Darien Lakes.

I support also, the right of working men and women to represent their own interests. The majority of stage hands at Darien Lakes asked me to perform the show.

Enough said,

Arlo Guthrie

Followup:

As a matter of fact the national labor relations board called the action illegal and ordered the local to cease immediately. If theaction had been sanctioned by the union, we wouldn't have done the show. Was there a picket line? Yes. Did I cross it? Yep. Was it a legal picket line sanctioned by the International Union representing the stagehands? Nope.