<p>alwaysamom, Actor’s Equity has a “strike fund” and all actors employed in dark Broadway shows- stars and chorus members- are being paid $405 a week. However, this money won’t last through the year.</p>
<p>Here are the issues/facts as I have been able to decipher them:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Local One has been contract-less since the end of July. There were talks and negotiations to attempts to form a contract, but nothing came to fruition.</p></li>
<li><p>On November 10, at 10 AM, the union decided to strike, without much of an official warning to the League (I say official warning because there had been speculation beforehand).</p></li>
<li><p>The theatres affected are the ones owned by the Schuberts and another producer entity, the name of which I can’t recall. The Nederlander-owned theatres have locked the stagehands out in solidarity with the League. Additionally, the owners of the theatre in which THE GRINCH is playing (which is on a different contract b/c of a 12-15 performance/week schedule) have also locked the stagehands out.</p></li>
<li><p>The main issue with contract negotiations is “featherbedding”. Local One wants a clause in their contract that allows for more stagehands than is necessary for load-in. The producers believe that this is ridiculous and refuse to allow an excess number of workers to be employed for work that can be done easily and safely by fewer people.</p></li>
<li><p>Additionally, there is an issue over whether the stagehands are salaried or paid hourly wages. For example, they want to say that if they finish their work in less than their three hour call, they can’t be asked to sweep the stage, etc. The producers say that they should.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Obviously, not being closely connected with either party, my information may be (and probably is) biased and erroneous. But this is what I’ve been able to figure out from reading various news sources.</p>
<p>I’d really just like to know what the stagehands are getting for emergency relief money from the union, and what the union leaders are making while the strike is going on… I’d be willing to bet my little brother’s college money that the s.hands are making nothing while the union leaders haven’t cut back their own salaries at all.</p>