Stagehands and behind-the-scenes workers at the Schottenstein Center voted for the right the unionize.
If the results are certified, Schott employees will be able to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 12.
Votes were counted Wednesday afternoon at the State Employee Relations Board Office after the vote was closed last week. IATSE Local 12 Business Agent Brian Thomas said 44 workers voted for representation, while 27 did not.
There will be an objection period before the results can be certified on March 6.
"I am so happy for those workers because I know the support, the protection, the opportunities from the IA overall (have) in this career," Thomas said.
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He said the workers asked IATSE for representation about a year ago.
"They said enough was enough. Whether it was stagnant wages, safety or what have you," Thomas said.
The workers are stagehands, riggers who hang lights, people who load and unload trucks and more.
"There's an old adage in our industry. If we're doing our job properly, you'll never know we're there because we are behind the scenes," Thomas said.
Thomas, an Ohio State graduate himself, said he wants IATSE Local 12 and the Schottenstein workers to have a great relationship with Ohio State University.
"There's nothing more that I want personally than to see this relationship blossom, and we're going to do everything that we can to make sure that happens," Thomas said.
Ohio State University spokesman Ben Johnson said that throughout the process, the university supported they employees’ right to vote on union representation.
"We value these employees and are grateful for their contributions to the university," Johnson said in a statement.
