Deal Reached! Broadway Workers Strike Averted

The show will go on!

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (the IATSE) has reached an agreement with the Broadway League and Disney Theatrical Production. Both sides confirmed the news on Thursday.

This averts a strike that could have shut down nearly all Broadway productions in New York City as well as shows which were touring across the country as early as Friday.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) had previously called for a strike authorization vote following unsuccessful negotiations with Broadway producers (including The Broadway League and Disney Theatrical).

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Members of the IATSE originally had until 2 am on Friday (July 21) to cast their vote for the strike. The strike, which would then likely be called for on Friday morning, would have resulted in an immediate shutdown of most Broadway and national tour productions.

That's 28 of 30 currently running Broadway productions and 17 national tours, Playbill.com reports.

IATSE Reaches Agreement with Broadway League

The strike would have affected the 1,500 union IATSE union members who would go on covered under their Pink Contract. So that means stagehands, hair and make-up artists, wardrobe personnel, and others employed directly by the productions.

IATSE was close to a new contract back in 2020, but it was affected by the COVID-19 closure on Broadway. A temporary extension was granted to that contract through July 2, 2023. That deadline had been pushed back as talks and negotiations continued earlier this month, a report from ABC 7 said. 

It's unclear what the exact nature of Thursday's deal entailed. The IATSE was demanding better wages, benefits, and rights for their workers.

The agreement is pending ratification by the bargaining unit.

"The respective parties will inform their members of the details of this agreement in the coming days," both sides said in a joint statement.

Broadway Last Went on Strike in 2007

The last IATSE strike was in 2007 and it lasted 17 days.

It was the union's first (and only strike to date) bringing Broadway to a halt during the busy holiday season that year.

That strike, by the way, came only five years after the Broadway musicians went on strike back in 2003.

Meanwhile, SAG-AFRTA strike and Writers Union remain on strike halting nearly all Hollywood TV and movie productions.  Broadway's actors are not SAG-AFTRA sets so they are allowed to continue performing.