Equity members vote in health and touring contract by a landslide

Published Friday 1 October 2004 at 13:15 by Judd Hollander

US Equity members have voted for a new production contract covering Broadway and major touring shows by a massive 96% margin.

Of the 2,421 valid ballots returned, 2,332 voted in favor of the new agreement, while 89 voted against. The contract runs retroactively from June 28 until June 27, 2008.

The result brings to end a year-long period of planning by the union. Negotiations between Equity and the League of American Theatres and Producers began in April and went past the old contract’s expiration date, furthering the risk of strike action on Broadway. An agreement was reached on July 12, approved by Equity’s National Board on July 22 and sent out to its members shortly afterwards.

The contact covers Broadway and major touring shows between Equity and the League, Buena Vista Theatricals, The Nederlander Theatrical Organization, Clear Channel and Dodgers Stage Holdings Theatricals, Inc.

Equity president Patrick Quinn said: “This is a benchmark contract for all of professional theatre in America. It acknowledges the outstanding contributions actors make to the quality of the productions and it will ensure that audiences across the country will be able to enjoy the best theatre America has to offer.”

The two contested issues in the contract negotiations were the question of non-union tours and the producers’ demands for concessions on “non-blockbuster” touring shows. The unions wanted the producers to promise not to stage any non-union tours, something the League refused to consider, countering instead with the need for concessions on their own touring vehicles, in order to financially compete with non-union productions. In the end, an agreement was reached creating an Experimental Touring Program for musicals, where a sliding scale would be established regarding touring shows.

In order for Equity concessions to be applied to a specific tour, the producers will have to give Equity detailed financial information on the production - the first time such information has been provided. This includes weekly box office statements and operating expenses. The union also has the right to audit any production operating under the agreement and will monitor the touring program for the next three years. If, in that time, the union determines the process is not working, they have the right to cancel the programme.

In another important gain, the programme will also allow profit sharing for Equity members, as well as increased salaries after productions recoup their initial investment.

Other highlights of the contract include a 3% wage increase for Equity actors and stage managers for each year of the contract, an agreement by producers to make increased contributions to the Equity Health Fund, a set of protocols, jointly developed by producers and the union, to assist the developing and staging process of a production while trying to reduce the risk of injury to the performers and more flexible promotions terms, which will make it easier for show advertisements to run longer, giving added employment weeks for actors. The League will also give $500,000 towards promoting the Live Broadway logo. The logo will appear in the credit pages of all program material.

“This contract is a turning point in our history,” said Equity executive director Alan Eisenberg. “We have addressed the two key issues and have achieved a contract that is forward-thinking and progressive. It will strengthen the health fund, create more roles for actors in touring productions and it addresses the important issue of safety for actors.”