Stagehands and Producers Resume Talks as Broadway Strike Enters 2nd Week

Twenty-seven Broadway shows have now been dark for over a week, but there may be a light at the end of the tunnel -- today, the Broadway stagehands' union Local One and the League of American Theatres and Producers resumed negotiations for the first time since the union went on strike on November 10. No word yet on whether there has been any progress, but we'll keep you updated. In the meantime, Broadway fans will have to settle for the eight shows that are still open (their theaters are on different contracts with Local One): The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Cymbeline, Mary Poppins, Mauritius, Pygmalion, The Ritz, Xanadu, and Young Frankenstein.

Broadway Stagehands Union Contract Update

The latest news in the ongoing contract dispute between the Broadway stagehands union Local One and the League of American Theatres and Producers is that the two parties will return to the negotiating table on November 7. Talks between the Broadway stagehands and producers ceased on October 9, and since that time, Local One voted to authorize a strike (if necessary) and the producers began implementing portions of their proposed contract, even though the union obviously hasn't accepted the offer. Local One leadership instructed its members to go ahead and abide by the new provisions until a new contract has been officially agreed upon.

At this stage, it's hard to say whether or not there will be a strike. The League's imposition of the new rules was an aggressive move that seemed designed to provoke, but Local One has never gone on strike before and likely doesn't want to start now. The head of IATSE, Local One's parent union, will be present at the new negotiations, which isn't necessarily a good sign, though -- an IATSE representative must be present at one round of talks before Local One is permitted to strike.