<p>Alwaysamom, the articles I read (apparently out of date?) indicated that the Nederlander Theaters were also under a separate contract and therefore not part of the strike. I am very familiar with “manning” requirements in collective bargaining agreements and have negotiated contracts in many industries where “old” manning rules had to be addressed. These are always tough issues to negotiate because anyway you cut it, changing manning rules results in people, often with families, out of work with no comparable replacement work available. Nobody (who does not have ulterior motives or another agenda) wants to see a strike in any industry. Everyone gets hurt. I just have to wonder what the real objective is when one side takes action which is not compelling and necessitous (here, unilaterally imposing a “final offer”) and which very predictably will result in a work stoppage. If the unilateral imposition of the “final offer” had not occurred, odds are the parties would not find themselves in the position they are in. Imposing a “final offer” puts a Union’s back against the wall and leaves little alternative but to strike.</p>
<p>As to the support of other unions, I am going to refrain from commenting too much lest I offend those who I don’t desire to offend. I do a lot of collective bargaining representing certain segments of performers in the performing arts community and am also privy to the negotiations involving other segments of performers. Suffice it to state that many performing artist unions rely on the support of IATSE in their labor battles because of IATSE’s reputation as an organization that practices tough trade unionism and without that support would not be as successful in the outcome of their negotiations.</p>