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The union is representing broadwayMusicians reached a temporary labor agreement with professional producers on Thursday, averting a potentially devastating strike that would have silenced nearly two dozen concerts.
American Federation of Musicians Local 802 – which represents 1,200 musicians – had threatened to strike if a new contract was not in place by the morning, after going into arbitration on Wednesday.
Earlier Thursday, the union said it had reached a tentative agreement that includes wage increases and increased contributions to the health fund.
“This three-year agreement provides meaningful wage and health benefit increases that will preserve vital access to health care for our musicians while maintaining the strong contract protections that empower musicians to build a stable career on Broadway,” Bob Suttman, president of AFM Local 802, said in a statement.
The 23 shows that could go silent range from megahits like “Hamilton” and “The Lion King” to newer shows like “Queen of Versailles” and “The Chase,” which are still in previews. Plays will not be automatically affected.
It was the second Broadway labor deal in less than a week. Labor tensions already seemed to calm down after the Actors’ Equity Association – which represents more than 51,000 members including singers, actors, dancers and stage managers – announced a new three-year deal with producers over the weekend.
Members of both unions were working under expired contracts. The musicians’ contract expired on August 31, and the Equity contract expired on September 28.
The health of Broadway — once in great doubt due to the coronavirus pandemic, which closed theaters for nearly 18 months — is now pretty good, at least in terms of the box office. It’s a long way from the days when theaters were closed and the future looked bleak, but the 2024-2025 season grossed $1.9 billion – the highest-grossing season in recorded history, surpassing the previous pre-pandemic high of $1.8 billion set during the 2018-2019 season.
Unions pointed to the financial condition of Broadway and argued that producers could raise wages and benefits for musicians and actors. Producers represented by the Broadway League countered that potential ticket price increases to accommodate demands could jeopardize the restored health of Broadway.
The most recent major strike on Broadway occurred in late 2007, when a 19-day walkout by stagehands took out the lights on more than two dozen shows and cost the producers and the city millions of dollars in lost revenue.
On Wednesday, three US senators… new york And New Jersey – democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker and andy kim – Wrote letters to both sides urging them to “participate in good faith talks and continued communication”. The senators said Broadway supports approximately 100,000 jobs and is “an essential cornerstone in the economic well-being of surrounding businesses and areas, including hospitality, retail and transportation.”