Equity Holds Emergency Meeting to Determine Whether or Not to Strike; Interim Deals Reached With Two Shows
For the past several weeks, Equity has been in contract talks with the League of American Theatres and Producers. Although progress in some areas has been reported, the increase in non-Equity tours of Broadway productions remains the sticking point that could potentially darken Broadway for the second time in less than two years: In March 2003, the American Federation of Musicians, Local 802 struck for four days and AEA members went out in sympathy.
If a strike does occur, the majority of Broadway shows would cease performances until Equity and the League come to terms. Exceptions would be the Roundabout’s After the Fall and Assassins, Lincoln Center Theater’s The Frogs, and Manhattan Theatre Club’s Sight Unseen. The actors in these shows work under special LORT contracts for limited-run productions by not-for-profit companies rather than under the Production Contract that usually applies to Broadway shows. Additionally, Equity has struck an interim deal with the producers of The Boy From Oz, starring Hugh Jackman, that will allow that show to continue playing even if there is a strike. The union is attempting to negotiate directly with other Broadway productions to reach similar agreements.
“We just got word about 10 minutes ago that The Glass Menagerie at the Kennedy Center also signed the interim contract agreement,” AEA spokesperson Maria Somma told TheaterMania this morning. “We don’t have confirmation of any other deals at this point. This afternoon, Equity Council is expected to decide if there is to be a work stoppage and to determine how that work stoppage will roll out — whether it will only affect Broadway or the road as well. We’re currently trying to determine whether or not we’re going to have a press conference; we should know within the next couple of hours.”
On Saturday, July 10, League president Jed Bernstein issued the following statement, reproduced here in full: “The League and Actors’ Equity have worked hard and reached tentative agreement on virtually every issue on the table with the exception of salary and per diem for certain categories of touring productions. We believe that having a viable economic plan for the road is critically important to both sides, and we want to continue to work toward an agreement on these issues. However, we will not accept a deal that does not realistically address the problems that face touring Broadway. Equity’s last offer on touring is still hundreds of dollars per week higher than the rates they have agreed to in the special deals they’ve made with non-union producers.
“The overall package now on the table is fair to both sides. It provides reasonable increases in wages and benefits, and most importantly, protects the health and safety of union members. While we prefer to resolve our negotiations in a way that addresses the touring marketplace, we do not want to hold Broadway in New York hostage to our inability to find common ground on the road. Thus, we have offered Equity a package that covers all other issues and takes touring off the table. In short, we’ve said let’s do a deal now on the issues we can agree on, and leave touring to the next contract negotiation. Producers are ready to go back to the table and to make a fair deal with or without touring today.”
