Photo Credit: Julio Rionaldo
Broadway musicians’ union AFM Local 802 has reached a tentative agreement with the Broadway League, averting a potential strike.
AFM Local 802 has announced reaching a tentative agreement with the Broadway League and Disney Theater Productions. The news comes after the musicians’ union said it was prepared to strike should a deal not be reached by Thursday morning.
The tentative deal includes wage increases and contribution increases to the health fund. AFM Local 802 President Bob Suttmann issued a statement:
“United in solidarity, Local 802 Broadway musicians are thrilled to announce that we reached a tentative agreement at 4:30 AM with the Broadway League that will avert a strike scheduled to begin later today,” Suttmann’s statement began.
“This three-year agreement provides meaningful wage and health benefit increases that will preserve crucial access to healthcare for our musicians while maintaining the strong contract protections that empower musicians to build a steady career on Broadway.”
Local 802 will now bring the tentative agreement to the members for ratification. Broadway musicians have been working without a contract since August 31st. Since then, the union has been trying to secure a new contract that includes increased wages, increased healthcare contributions, and employment and income security.
Of course, averting a strike is great news for musicians drawing a paycheck from Broadway shows. But given the extremely high caliber chops of ‘in the pit’ musicians, a growing — and more easily accessible — gig economy now offers another revenue outlet. Among the big players here is GigSalad, a company connecting private event coordinators with thousands of musicians across every conceivable configuration.
If a Broadway strike were to occur, it would have shut down nearly every musical playing on Broadway, with the exception of “Ragtime,” which is under a different work contract. Broadway actors under the Actors’ Equity union recently secured their own contract, but would likely have gone on strike as well in solidarity with the musicians.
Even members of Congress had expressed their solidarity with Broadway workers, citing the negative financial impact a strike would have on New York City.
Broadway musicians went on strike previously, for five days in 2003. The most recent Broadway strike came in 2007 when stagehands went on strike for 19 days. Actors’ Equity has not gone on strike since 1968, which lasted for three days until New York’s mayor stepped in.
