No Strike Yet, But Equity/League Talks Stalled

Talks between Actors' Equity Association and The League of American Theatres and Producers to renegotiate a contract that expired at midnight on June 27 have broken down, but union performers on Broadway and elsewhere are not yet on strike. According to an Equity spokesperson, representatives from The League abruptly walked out of the negotiation room at 10:45pm without warning and with no conclusions reached. A League spokesperson confirmed the timeframe, but said it was Equity that actually ended the talks. "They are the ones who stopped negotiating. We left the room because their actions made clear that negotiations had clearly ended for the night," he said. Regardless, Equity is instructing its members to show up to work tomorrow. It is planning on having its governing body, Equity Council, meet to determine the union's next step.

Equity and the League have been negotiating new terms for the Broadway Production Contract, the agreement that governs dealings on both Broadway and the road, since April 1, 2004. Weeks ago, while talks were still ongoing, 98.2% of the Equity membership voted to authorize a strike if terms were not agreed upon by the expiration of the deadline.

While there are numerous issues on the table, the main ones are the proliferation of non-Equity tours, health coverage for actors and safety issues. Non-Equity tours have long upset Equity, leading to fines for Equity actors participating in such tours and protests outside of theaters. In recent years, as production costs for union tours have increased, the number of non-Equity tours has also skyrocketed. Subscription series, where non-union and union productions are billed together as part of a “Broadway Series,” have added fuel to the fire. While in the past the first national touring rights have gone to Equity, with subsequent tours falling to non-Equity producers such as Troika Entertainment and Big League Theatricals, Equity now claims the League has begun licensing first national touring rights to non-Equity producers, thereby eliminating a substantial amount of work for union actors. Equity wants to stop the majority of these non-Equity tours, but the League believes that without concessions, Equity tours are no longer cost effective. Although none of the exact offers being bandied about have been released, sources say the League proposed a deal where touring salaries would be determined partially on the success of the show. Equity representatives in the meetings would not agree to the proposal.

The problems with the Equity/League Heath Fund are also in many ways related to touring productions. The decrease in Equity touring work weeks has meant contributions to the Fund have lowered, as the costs of coverage have increased. Qualifying for health insurance under the Fund is now harder than ever before, requiring more work weeks. Equity would like the League to contribute much more to the fund, but, again, the League has countered that Equity's proposals are not financially sound.

The workplace safety issue, discussed early on, seems to be the only major issue that the sides agree upon. There has been a significant increase in injuries to actors, mainly, it is thought, because of stage design and increasing amounts of special effects. Early on in the negotiation process, a consensus about safety issues was reached, but the details of it have not been announced.

Equity and the League issued a media blackout on June 16. The only updates prior to now have been solely of the “negotiations are continuing” vein. No observers were permitted in negotiations this weekend.

Until further word, actors will work this week without a contract. This situation is similar to the one experienced when negotiations between Local 802, the musician's union, and the League broke down last year. The musicians' contract expired on a Sunday at midnight, but talks were extended until Thursday at midnight. The musician's eventually had a four-day strike, with Local One Gotham's IATSE chapter and Equity striking in solidarity. That strike was settled after an all-night session at the Mayor's mansion.