Actors’ Equity has reached a tentative agreement with the Broadway League over a new contract, averting the possibility of a strike.
The union, which represents actors and stage managers, stated that they had reached an agreement over the Broadway contract after a mediation session that started Friday and lasted until 6 a.m. ET Saturday. The contract will still need to be ratified by members.
“After a marathon mediation session lasting until 6 a.m., Equity and The Broadway League have reached a tentative agreement on the Production Contract. This three-year agreement saves the Equity-League Health Fund while also making strides in our other priorities, including scheduling and physical therapy access. Now we will bring the deal to our members for ratification, and in the meantime, we are putting our full support behind AFM Local 802 as they work with the League to reach a deal that averts a strike,” Al Vincent Jr., executive director of Actors’ Equity, said in a statement,
Details of the agreement were not immediately available, but Equity had pointed to health insurance contributions from the League as a prior sticking point in negotiations.
Leading up to the tentative agreement, Equity had voted to authorize a strike if necessary and had members sign strike pledge cards. A mediator stepped in recently after weeks of negotiation. The union’s three-year contract expired Sept. 28.
Local 802 AFM, which represents musicians on Broadway, is still negotiating its contract with the League and recently voted to approve a strike, if necessary, as well. Their contract has also expired.
“We are thankful that our brothers and sisters in labor at Actors’ Equity have reached an agreement. Local 802 is still in negotiation for a fair contract, and everything remains on the table, including a strike,” Local 802 union President Robert Suttmann said in a statement.
