NEW YORK CITY: Actors’ Equity Association has ended its strike. The actors and stage managers’ union has reached an agreement with the Broadway League regarding the lab agreement, which governs developmental projects on Broadway. The new agreement will include profit sharing, higher wagers, and additional stage manager contracts.
The strike was declared on Jan. 7, after the two entities reached an impasse on negotiations for a new lab agreement. During the strike the union denied membership to any actors and stage managers who broke the strike. According to AEA, the salaries for actors and stage managers participating in Broadway workshops and readings had been frozen since 2007. According to AEA, one in four Broadway shows have used a Lab Agreement before opening on Broadway.
The new agreement will be applicable for AEA’s lab agreement, workshop, and stage reading contract.
The highlights from the new agreement includes:
- A five-year term for salaries, with three increases over five years.
- Profit sharing after a show recoups its initial investment.
- Triggers that will result in an additional assistant stage manager contract
- A minimum guarantee of five weeks of rehearsal time for a Broadway musical (four weeks for a play).
- Health and pension benefits.
