The Playgoer: Strike Update: Talks to Resume

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Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Strike Update: Talks to Resume

This story is probably in lots of places now, but here's Crain's NY Business:

“Talks have been scheduled between Local One and the League of American Theaters and Producers beginning this weekend, at an undisclosed place and time,” the two organizations wrote in a collective statement. Spokespeople for both sides declined further comment.
Such cooperation doesn't quite square with earlier bravado like the statement Riedel quoted today, attributed to an anonymous producer:
"Right now, there's euphoria out there [i.e. on the picket lines].... They've defied us, and they're united with the musicians and the actors. But let's see how they feel when there's blood on the street."
Actually the reference to the other unions is important, since, according to Riedel, Equity may not hold in as long if actors--especially younger, less established ones--get antsy about missing pay checks.

Still, blood in the streets?

Man the barricades!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Does anybody know why the actors and other employees have to miss paychecks because the stagehands are on strike?

They are two separate unions and AEA is not on strike. They've instructed members to sign in for their half-hour calls. Don't the producers still have to meet their financial obligations to employees who show up for work?

After all, I bet they're still paying the electric bill, right?

Anonymous said...

"Don't the producers still have to meet their financial obligations to employees who show up for work?"

Simply put - no. Just as network execs don't have to pay camermen and crew when Jay Leno doesn't show up for work. By showing solidarity with Local 1, actors, musicians, ushers or anyone else who collects a paycheck while 1 is on strike would technically be performing "struck work". Look at Ellen Degeneres...

Anonymous said...

don't think the actors are missing paychecks - producers still have to pay - rule 42 of the production contract rulebook (which covers Broadway) says no actor shall be subject to discipline, discharge or replacement for refusal to cross a picket line...so as long as they sign in and are ready to work they gotta be paid (my interpretation of the rule anyway) the blood on the street may mean that some producers (like THE GRINCH) may blame their closing on the strike (even though they are limited run) in order to try to freak out or force Equity - traditionally a weak link union - to help them get Local One to the table

Anonymous said...

They're paid, just not their regular full amount. The League aren't the only ones with a little pot of cash stored away. Local 1 has over $1M for strike compensation, and similarly Equity and all of the other unions have little funds set aside to give minimal ($400-$500/week) checks to their workers