Actors’ Equity Association Gets Strike Ready as Broadway Contract Expires

Actor’s Equity Association, the national union representing 51,000 actors and stage managers who work in live theatre, has begun gathering Strike Pledge cards from their members who work on Broadway. They’ve been bargaining since August with the Broadway League for the next iteration of the Production Contract, which governs commercial productions of plays and musicals on Broadway.

At the heart of the dispute is ensuring that workers’ well-being is not sacrificed in favor of profits – especially on the heels of what The Broadway League calls “the highest grossing season in Broadway recorded history.” The union is seeking more humane and sustainable scheduling, better coverage when workers call out, and increased contributions to the union’s health fund, which they calculate will fall into a deficit this coming May if the Broadway League doesn’t pay their fair share.

“Asking our employers to care for our bodies, and to pay their fair share toward our health insurance is not only reasonable and necessary, it’s an investment they should want to make toward the long-term success of their businesses. That’s just math,” said Equity President Brooke Shields. “There are no Broadway shows without healthy Broadway actors and stage managers. And there are no healthy actors and stage managers without safe workplaces and stable health insurance.”

Keep up with developments by following @EquityUnitedOfficial on Instagram!