Broadway is facing a possible strike this fall as two of its major labor unions — the one representing actors and stage managers and the one representing musicians — are simultaneously in negotiations for new contracts with the industry’s commercial producers.
On Wednesday, a mediator will begin trying to broker a deal between Actors’ Equity Association and the Broadway League, which represents producers and theater owners. The two sides have met 11 times since August, and Equity has begun collecting signatures from its members on cards that say “if the time comes, I am ready to strike.”
“We knew this was going to be a hard negotiation, and it has been; thus far they have not really moved on any of our proposals,” said Al Vincent Jr., the executive director of Equity.
The American Federation of Musicians Local 802 said it expected to announce Wednesday night that it would hold a strike authorization vote in which union leaders will seek permission from members to call a strike if the leadership deems it necessary. The musicians have another bargaining session scheduled for next Tuesday.
“We are hopeful producers will come to their senses and recognize the value of our members,” Robert Suttmann, the president of the musicians’ union, said. However, he said, “The current state of talks with the Broadway League are very disappointing, and our members are not only mad, they are willing to do whatever it takes, up to and including going on strike.”
Broadway box office grosses last season reached a record high, fueled by a handful of starry plays, and union members say that should make it possible to increase their compensation and benefits packages. But postpandemic musicals have been failing at a stunningly high rate, and producers say they must control costs to stabilize the industry.
Both unions say they are frustrated with the slow pace of progress in their talks, and on Friday, they began collecting signatures for an online petition expressing support for union members.
The League declined to comment on the possibility of a strike, but said in a statement, “We look forward to returning to the bargaining table in good faith this week and are ready to get these contracts done.”
The potential of a strike is already attracting attention from Congress. Representative Chellie Pingree, a Maine Democrat, has been gathering signatures from her colleagues on a letter that is expected to be sent Wednesday night, warning that a strike would cause economic damage for workers and businesses and urging the parties to reach an agreement.
Why is this happening?
The musicians’ contract expired on Aug. 31, and the Equity contract expired on Sept. 28, so members of both unions are now working under expired contracts.
Members of both unions are seeking pay increases — they won’t say how much — and higher contributions by producers toward employee health care costs. (The minimum weekly salary for a Broadway actor is currently $2,638.)
Producers are seeking to control the costs of making Broadway shows, which have risen considerably in recent years. Salaries and benefits are a major element of Broadway budgets, but not the only one: Union members and even some producers often point to theater rent as another major expense that could merit greater attention. And the unions argue that costs have also risen for workers trying to support themselves in an expensive city.
What’s going on with health insurance?
Equity is concerned about the financial health of its insurance plan, which it says is projected to face a deficit next year. The union says producers contribute less per capita toward the health insurance of Broadway actors than other unionized stage actors around the country receive. The League says the union has been mischaracterizing its degree of support for worker health care because in addition to the per capita contributions, the health care fund gets some money from box office grosses. Equity says that money is needed for pensions.
The musicians make a more basic argument: Health care costs are rising, and they need more help from their employers to meet those costs.
The League said in its statement, “we certainly support strong health coverage and have always been willing to discuss health contributions as part of our negotiations.”
What are some other sticking points?
Both sides acknowledge that, since the pandemic, actors have been missing performances, citing illness, more frequently. Equity is seeking to require that producers hire more swings (performers who can replace absent ensemble members) as well as more backup for stage managers. The League, however, wants to find ways to reduce rising absenteeism rates.
Equity also wants new limits on how many performances in a row actors can be asked to do without a day off. Under the normal Broadway schedule, actors work a six-day week, performing eight shows. But the current contract allows actors to do 16 shows in a row without a day off, and that sometimes happens — mostly over the end-of-year holidays when audience demand for Broadway shows is highest and some productions add extra performances.
There are other issues, too. Equity also wants stronger language about physical therapy for all of its members, including stage managers; the League believes producers already do a good job providing physical therapy for all who need it. And the League wants to reduce compensation for some orchestra contractors — an administrative role some instrumentalists take on — saying that their responsibilities have changed; the union opposes those changes.
If there were a strike, would every show close?
No. The contracts being negotiated apply to most, but not all, Broadway shows, meaning a handful of shows would most likely continue to run during a strike. The specifics would depend on which union went on strike, because their contracts differ. Among the fall shows likely to continue running through a work stoppage by either union are the musical “Ragtime” and the plays “Punch” and “Marjorie Prime,” because they are presented by nonprofits.
Off Broadway shows and those outside New York City should continue to run, with at least one exception. An Equity strike would also be likely to affect the Broadway-bound Minneapolis production of “Purple Rain” because its actors and stage managers are covered by the Broadway contract.
When was the last Broadway strike?
In 2007 there was a stagehands strike that closed most shows for 19 days. There have been a half-dozen other strikes over the years; the first, and longest, was in 1919 — it lasted 30 days. The last strike by the actors’ union was in 1968.
Michael Paulson is the theater reporter for The Times.
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