Equity/League Talks Off Again; Shows Go On
This deterioration of talks comes after a week of somewhat peaceful negotiations between the sides. At a Thursday conference call for League members, producers, who only a week prior had believed there would be a strike, expressed their belief that such a drastic measure seemed unlikely. Indeed an Equity spokesperson told Broadway.com just yesterday morning that things were looking up.
However these congenial feelings may have been based on the fact that prior to the end of the week, both sides had tabled the contentious issue of concessions for those involved in touring productions. Earlier in the week the talks had concentrated on things like contributions to the health fund, which, while previously a sticking point, was never as emotionally charged an issue as the proliferation of non-union tours.
The last League statement issued said that, "The League and Actors' Equity have worked hard and reached tentative agreement on virtually every issue on the table with the exception of salary and per diem for certain categories of touring productions." By mentioning the "special deals" Equity has made with non-union producers, The League is probably again referencing the much-publicized agreement Equity came to with Troika Presentations regarding the high-profile upcoming Evita tour, which is being overseen by Hal Prince. In a May 20 letter from League president Jed Bernstein to Equity Executive Director Alan Eisenberg, Bernstein wrote: "While you have told us at the bargaining table that you cannot agree to similar pay-scale arrangements with the League, AEA also has been at a different table - cutting a reduced compensation deal with Troika Presentations, a non-League, non-Equity producer, for a road tour of Evita this Fall. From our standpoint, there should be nothing further to discuss on the road issue in our contract negotiations. Treat us as you treat non-League, non-Equity producers and our members will be able to send more Equity productions out on the road." At the time, Eisenberg responding by saying that the deals with non-union producers such as Troika were "first-time agreements with producers that have no collective bargaining agreement with Equity" and that such companies "hardly have the same standing as first-class League producers." Both sides asked the other to open up their books--The League requesting the exact terms of the Evita deal and Equity asking for League financials that would prove the economic hardships brought on by Equity road tours. Neither side was immediately agreeable to such a thing.
Today's statement from The League explained producers' belief that the "overall package now on the table is fair to both sides." The League also states that their organization has "offered Equity a package that covers all other issues and takes touring off the table," meaning that the situation with tours would stay as it is for now and be dealt with during the next contract negotiations. The last Production Contract was a four-year deal, but it is unclear how long the new one will last.
As of noon, an Equity spokesperson told Broadway.com that the union had not been contacted by League representatives and had not seen the League statement issued to the media. When that statement was forwarded on, Eisenberg issued this comment in response: "These negotiations must make certain that Equity productions remain the norm across the United States. This is the only way to ensure that audiences across the nation are pleased, not disappointed. Unless we succeed in these negotiations, the long term effect will be the loss of Broadway as the number one New York tourist attraction. Just as the Musicians were more interested than the producers in protecting live music, Equity is more interested than the producers in protecting the quality of productions that play in America's hometowns."
Equity is still instructing its members, who have been operating without a contract since June 27, to report to work. An emergency Equity Council meeting will be held on Monday to decide the next step in the process. Whether that involves a strike which was already approved by membership or more negotiations remains to be seen.
One actor contacted by Broadway.com expressed his belief that the union should not put off the discussion of road deals, even if that means a strike were necessary. "What good would that do?" he said. "Then the producers would just keep putting out non-union tours and by the time the next negotiations happen, they won't be able to be stopped."
The League has long had a contingency plan in place if there is a strike and is having its own meeting on Monday to update its members.