Broadway strike threat ended

Published Tuesday 13 July 2004 at 16:15 by Judd Hollander

US Equity and the League of American Theatres and Producers have announced they have reached a tentative contract, eliminating the threat of a Broadway strike.

Talks had broken down previously over the issues of actor and stage managers salaries on Broadway touring shows, as well as how to curb the spread of non-union tours, which had grown from 10% to 40% of the touring market over the last few years.

This week the Equity leadership held an emergency meeting to decide on their next move - which included the possibility of going on strike - a move overwhelmingly endorsed by the membership. Over 98% of ballots returned on this issue were in favour of walking the picket lines if a deal was not reached.

Details of the contract are being kept under wraps but reports indicated both sides gave ground to reach a deal. Equity accepted a tier salary system on the road, whereby actors and stage managers will be paid lower wages on less successful tours. Meanwhile the league has agreed to send out more union productions, which guarantees more overall employment, albeit at a lower salary level in some cases.

A joint statement by both groups noted: “Actors’ Equity Association and the League of American Theatres and Producers announced today they have reached a tentative agreement on a new four year production contract.

“The Equity Council will review the agreement and will make a recommendation. The contract will then be sent to the Equity ratification group for vote. The contract will serve our industry and theatregoers well, keeping Broadway strong in New York and creating more opportunities on the road.”

In a surprise move on July 12 the producers of the Broadway show The Boy From Oz, starring Australian actor Hugh Jackman, announced they had signed an interim agreement with Equity to keep the show running in the event a strike did happen. They accepted Equity’s contract demands on such things as wages and health benefits, as well as an agreement not to send a out non-union touring production of the show.

According to one report, the producers only agreed to the deal because they have no intention of sending the show on tour and wish to keep the Broadway production running until September. The show previously announced it would close when Jackman’s contract expired.

Not surprisingly the League was unhappy with the Oz deal. It immediately circulated a ‘document of independence’ for its members to sign as proof they would not accept any similar agreement with Equity and that any contracts must be negotiated at the collective bargaining table.