Broadway musicians have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, averting the possibility of a strike.
Local 802 AFM, the union which represents musicians, had said they would strike “immediately” if a deal could be reached with the Broadway League, a trade association for producers and general managers, after a mediation session Wednesday. This was the second threat of a strike in the past few weeks, as Actors’ Equity and the League had also hit an impasse in their negotiations.
“United in solidarity, Local 802 Broadway musicians are thrilled to announce that we reached a tentative agreement at 4:30 am with the Broadway League that will avert a strike scheduled to begin later today. This three-year agreement provides meaningful wage and health benefit increases that will preserve crucial access to healthcare for our musicians while maintaining the strong contract protections that empower musicians to build a steady career on Broadway,” Local 802 President Robert Suttmann said in a statement.
Local 802 will bring the tentative agreement to the members for ratification.
Actors’ Equity reached a tentative agreement with the League Saturday over a new contract, as part of a mediation session, and members are set to vote whether to ratify the agreement in the coming days.
Musicians have been working without a contract since Aug. 31. The union was lobbying for wage gains, increased healthcare contributions from the League — saying that the current rate would result in members losing coverage or the loss of family coverage — and greater job security, including maintaining the current jobs on Broadway and keeping in-house contractors, who find musicians for shows.
Amid the negotiation sessions, actors and musicians had both repeatedly pointed to the high grosses brought in from some Broadway shows this season and last, while producers have pointed to the higher costs of producing shows.
“On the heels of the most successful seasons 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,” Suttmann said in a prior statement.
Ninety-eight percent of Local 802 members voted to authorize a strike, if necessary, earlier this month.
If the musicians had gone on strike, 23 Broadway musicals would have been impacted, including long-standing mega earners, Wicked, Hamilton and The Lion King, as well as new musicals in previews, such as Chess and Queen of Versailles. Ragtime, which is produced at the nonprofit Lincoln Center Theater and not under this contract, would be the only musical not impacted.
The musicians’ union last went on strike in 2003, which led to the closure of most Broadway shows for about five days and IATSE went on strike in 2007, which disrupted shows for 19 days.
