IATSE, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, is gearing up for a strike authorization vote after discussions between The Broadway League and Disney Theatrical Productions fell short of meeting the demands of theater workers covered under the Pink Contract. The contract’s bargaining committee, composed of international leadership and rank-and-file theater workers, announced the unanimous decision on Wednesday.
The Pink Contract provides coverage for approximately 1,500 theatrical professionals, including stagehands, hair and make-up artists, wardrobe personnel, and other crucial workers involved in both Broadway productions in New York and touring shows across the United States and Canada. It encompasses a total of 45 theatrical shows, with 17 currently on tour and 28 running on Broadway.
The strike authorization voting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday and Thursday, concluding at 11 pm PT on July 20. If an agreement cannot be reached, IATSE is prepared to commence a strike as early as the morning of Friday, July 21.
In an email sent to Pink Contract members on Tuesday, IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb emphasized the importance of unity and strength in attaining the wages, benefits, and rights that all IATSE members have earned and deserve.
Although there have been some positive developments in the negotiations, such as a tentative agreement to safeguard employer-provided healthcare without any reductions or increased out-of-pocket costs, and the establishment of employer-provided housing for touring crews for the first time, several key concerns raised by workers have not been adequately addressed. These outstanding issues include salary increases for Broadway crews and the establishment of reasonable weekly and daily rest periods.
IATSE’s announcement comes at a time when the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA are currently engaged in ongoing strikes. The Writers Guild strike began on May 2, while the SAG-AFTRA strike commenced on July 14. Members of IATSE and Matthew D. Loeb have shown their support for these labor actions by joining WGA and SAG-AFTRA members on picket lines.
IATSE’s strike vote intends to convey a powerful message that substandard contracts that fail to recognize the contributions of their workers will not be accepted. They are determined not to leave anyone stranded and will continue to stand firm unless a deal that meets the members’ expectations is reached by the end of the week.