Broadway breathed a collective sigh of relief as a looming strike, which threatened to severely cripple an already fragile industry, was successfully averted.
In the early hours of Thursday, following an intense 18-hour negotiation session facilitated by a mediator, the labor union representing musicians reached a tentative agreement with the Broadway League, the trade association representing producers and theater owners. The union, the American Federation of Musicians Local 802, had previously warned of a walkout later that very day if a new contract wasn’t secured.
Robert Suttmann, president of Local 802, jubilantly announced in a statement, “United in solidarity, Local 802 Broadway musicians are thrilled to announce that we reached a tentative agreement at 4:30 a.m. with the Broadway League that will avert a strike scheduled to begin later today.” He added that this new three-year agreement would provide “meaningful wage and health benefit increases that will preserve crucial access to health care for our musicians while maintaining the strong contract protections that empower musicians to build a steady career on Broadway.”
The union opted not to disclose specific details immediately, stating that members needed to be informed first. The Broadway League did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment.
This resolution comes hot on the heels of another major deal struck just five days prior, when the League reached a separate tentative contract agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the union for performers and stage managers. On Wednesday, Actors’ Equity shared the details of their agreement with members, which included a 3 percent annual salary increase over a three-year term and significantly higher contributions from the League to the workers’ health fund.
Both unions had previously threatened to strike. While a disruption is still technically possible, as both contracts require ratification by their respective union members, it is now considered highly improbable.
Actors’ Equity’s national council has already recommended its proposed contract for ratification to its members. Nearly 4,000 Equity members—those who have worked on Broadway since 2019—are eligible to cast their votes, with the process commencing on Friday.
Now, the executive board of the musicians’ union must deliberate whether to endorse its newly formed deal. If they recommend ratification, over 1,200 union members will be asked to vote on the contract.
The previous musicians’ contract was an unusually brief 18-month agreement that expired on August 31st; the last Actors’ Equity contract ended on September 28th. Simultaneous negotiations for both contracts are uncommon, and this overlap had left the entire industry particularly exposed to a potential stoppage.
Members from both unions were primarily seeking—and have reportedly secured—higher wages and more substantial contributions from producers towards worker health insurance costs.
Other areas of contention included rising absenteeism rates in the wake of the Covid pandemic. Actors’ Equity’s communication to its members indicated that the new deal would implement “reasonable escalating consequences” for “repeated absences without good and sufficient cause.”
The resolution of these labor disputes brings welcome news to Broadway, an industry that simply cannot afford another interruption. Attendance is finally nearing pre-pandemic levels, but escalating production costs mean that many new musicals struggle to recoup their initial investments. In fact, only three of the 46 new musicals launched since the pandemic have managed to turn a profit.
Currently, 32 shows are running on Broadway, attracting 277,744 attendees during the week ending October 19th. The highest-grossing production that week was “Hamilton,” which has seen a resurgence thanks to the return of original cast star Leslie Odom Jr. Following closely were “Wicked,” buoyed by extensive marketing for its upcoming two-part film adaptation, and “The Lion King,” a beloved Disney classic still captivating audiences after an impressive 28 years.
Broadway’s most recent strike, in 2007, was initiated by the stagehands’ union and lasted for 19 days. The musicians last went on strike in 2003, while Actors’ Equity members’ last stoppage was in 1968.