NEW YORK, Oct 24 — The union representing Broadway musicians announced a tentative agreement with theatre owners yesterday that would avert a strike.
The American Federation of Musicians Local 802, which had threatened to strike if there was no agreement by yesterday, said it reached an accord with the Broadway League that includes “meaningful” wage and health benefit increases.
“United in solidarity, Local 802 Broadway musicians are thrilled to announce that we reached a tentative agreement at 4.30am with the Broadway League that will avert a strike scheduled to begin later today,” said Local 802 President Bob Suttmann.
Worries about a possible strike have loomed over New York’s storied theatre district in recent weeks after the Broadway League struggled over negotiations with the musicians’ union and its sister labour group, Actors’ Equity.
In both sets of negotiations, workers were clamouring for higher pay and for theatres to assume a greater share of the cost of health care premiums, which are on the rise in the United States.
Actors’ Equity, which had reached a preliminary agreement with the Broadway League over the weekend, had endorsed the demands of the musicians’ union in recent days.
An Actors’ Equity spokesman said the organisation’s board had voted to recommend approval of the deal.
Members are being briefed on the provisions and will be provided later this week with details on how to vote. The vote outcome is expected to be announced next week, the Actors’ Equity spokesman said.
The Broadway League did not immediately respond to a request for comment. — AFP
