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A potential strike that threatened to halt many Broadway musicals has been averted after the musicians' union reached a tentative agreement with the Broadway League early Thursday morning. The American Federation of Musicians Local 802 and the Broadway League, a trade association for producers and theater owners, finalized the deal after an 18-hour bargaining session aided by a mediator. The agreement, which still requires ratification by union members, includes wage increases and enhanced contributions to the health fund, ensuring access to healthcare for musicians.
AFM Local 802 President Bob Suttmann announced, "United in solidarity, Local 802 Broadway musicians are thrilled to announce that we reached a tentative agreement at 4:30 a.m. with the Broadway League that will avert a strike scheduled to begin later today." The musicians had been working without a contract since the end of August, and the previous contract expired on August 31.
The agreement comes just days after the Broadway League reached a separate tentative contract with the Actors’ Equity Association, the union representing performers and stage managers. The actors' union's deal includes a 3 percent salary increase each year over a three-year period, along with increased contributions to their health fund. Both unions had threatened to strike, but with these agreements, a disruption is now seen as unlikely.
The executive board of the musicians’ union will consider recommending ratification of the deal, and if approved, over 1,200 members will vote on the contract. The resolution of these labor issues is welcome news for Broadway, which has been recovering from the pandemic with attendance nearing pre-pandemic levels. However, rising production costs mean that few new musicals recoup their investments.
The New York Times reports that the most recent Broadway strike was in 2007 by the stagehands’ union, lasting 19 days, while the musicians last went on strike in 2003. ABC7NY notes that the tentative agreement will now be presented to union members for ratification. Variety highlights that without this deal, 23 musicals, including hits like "Hamilton," would have been affected.
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