Talks between Actors’ Equity and the Broadway League will continue late next week after two days of mediation this week produced no results in the difficult quest for a new production deal.
Al Vincent Jr., executive director of Equity, said in a statement to Deadline: “We have made some progress during our two days of mediation, but Equity and the Broadway League are still far apart on some of our most pressing issues. We plan to resume negotiations on October 17. In the meantime, we will continue strike preparations in the event we need to take that step.”
In a statement to Deadline, the League said: “Good faith negotiations take place at the bargaining table, not in the press. We look forward to returning to the bargaining table next week and are ready to close these contracts.”
Equity, which represents actors and directors, and the Broadway League, the professional organization of producers and theater owners, have been in negotiations for a new production contract since August 25. The most recent three-year contract expired on September 28.
Among the points of contention are health care (specifically, how much producers should contribute to the union health fund); Equity’s effort to hire additional swings (artists who replace absent artists) and reinforcements for managers (absenteeism in general has been increasing since Covid); and cast schedules, particularly during end-of-year vacation weeks when additional performances are added.
Equity members have already voted in favor of authorizing a strike.
Broadway musicians, under AFM Local 802, are currently voting on their own strike authorization. The musicians’ union, like Equity, is negotiating a new production contract (it has been without a contract since August 31). Health care and wages are among the biggest stumbling blocks.
Members of Local 802 began voting on a strike authorization yesterday and voting will conclude on Sunday. The results will be announced shortly afterwards.
