Broadway musicians have voted to ratify their new contract with the Broadway League.
The vote comes after the musicians were on the verge of strike two weeks ago, vowing to strike the next day if a deal could not be reached by Oct. 23 as part of a mediation session. A tentative agreement was reached in the early morning hours of Oct. 23, which AFM Local 802, which represents the union, said includes “meaningful wage and health benefit increases.”
The deal comes after Actors’ Equity had also threatened to strike if they could not reach a deal with the Broadway League, which represents producers and theater owners. Actors’ Equity reached a tentative agreement with the League Oct. 18 over a new contract, as part of a mediation session, and members voted to ratify the contract Oct. 30.
Increased healthcare contributions had been a sticking point for both unions.
The Local 802 ratification vote was tallied Monday with an “overwhelming majority” voting yes.
“After a hard-fought contract negotiation, Broadway musicians overwhelmingly ratified their new three-year contract, preserving industry-leading standards for the artists who power Broadway’s success. United in solidarity, Broadway musicians doubled down on their collective power with a 98% strike authorization vote. Ultimately, AFM Local 802’s Broadway musicians, together with the actors and stage managers of Actors’ Equity Association, have proven that organized labor remains a potent force on Broadway,” Bob Suttman, president of Local 802 AFM said in a statement.
Musicians had been working without a contract on Broadway since Aug. 31, 2025.
