On Monday, the Actor’s Equity Association (actors and stage managers union) announced a contract settlement with the Broadway League; averting a strike.
However, contract negotiations with the AFM Local 802 (musician’s union) have not gone well and have stated that if negotiations continue to stall, they will go on strike beginning Thursday (Oct 23).
A mediation session is scheduled for Wednesday morning between the Local 802 and the Broadway League.
Local 802 President Bob Suttmann said in a statement, “we are hopeful that we can reach an agreement.”
The musicians have been working without a contract since August 31. They have been working to negotiate a new contract since that time. The union is seeking increased wages and healthcare contributions, income security, and employment.
Around 98% of the Local 802 union voted to agree to a strike earlier this month is it was needed.
Should a strike be called, a great many of the shows currently running on Broadway would be affected; including:
“& Juliet”
“Aladdin”
“Beetlejuice”
“The Book of Mormon”
“Buena Vista Social Club”
“Chess”
“Chicago”
“Death Becomes her”
“The Great Gatsby
“Hadestown”
“Hamilton”
“Hell’s Kitchen”
“Just in Time”
“The Lion King”
“Mamma Mia!”
“Maybe Happy Ending”
“Operation Mincemeat”
“MJ The Musical”
“Moulin Rouge! The Musical”
“The Outsiders”
“The Queen of Versailles”
“SIX: The Musical”
and “Wicked”
“Ragtime” is under a separate contract and will not be affected by a strike.
While they have negotiated a contract, members of the Actor’s Equity Association’s deal is tentative and they could join Local 802 in the strike as a sign of solidarity. If that happens, nearly all of Broadway would be shut down.
In a previous statement, Local 802 President Suttmann noted, “on the heels of the most successful season in history, the Broadway League wants the working musicians and artists who fueled that very success to accept wage cuts, threats to healthcare benefits, and potential job losses. Faced with such an egregious erosion of their working conditions, Local 802 Broadway musicians and other artists are ready to leverage every ounce of their collective power, up to and including a strike. Committing to anything less would mean sacrificing far too many hard-won gains.”
Local 802 last went on strike for five days in 2003.
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani agree with the union members saying, “Broadway’s actors, musicians, and crew make New York the cultural capital of the world. Their health care is on the line, and it’s time for a fair deal that protects it.”