Lockout Likely
Lockout LikelyAccording to Sewell Chan of The New York Times:
As of Tuesday evening, the League of American Theaters and Producers, which represents most of Broadway’s producers and theater owners, and the stagehands’ union were at an impasse, making a lockout highly likely.
According to NY1:
No further talks are scheduled, after the League of American Theatres and Producers rejected a final offer from the stagehand's union last night. The union had rejected the producers' final offer earlier in the day.
New York Post's Michael Riedel quotes Local One President James J. Claffey as saying:
Local 1 is open to exchanges on work rules and other areas, but would not make a concessionary agreement of any kind. Local 1 will not accept [job] cuts.
As an audience member, unless you're holding tickets to see Mary Poppins, Mauritius, Pygmalion, The Ritz or Young Frankenstein, you may find yourself locked out along with the stagehands.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:
Is This The One For One? (October 9, 2007)
Stagehands' Union Concedes Key Point (October 5, 2007)
Stagehands Talks To Continue This Afternoon (October 5, 2007)
No Monday Lockout (September 29, 2007)
Before The Holidays Strike? (September 25, 2007)
Thanks, Mel! (July 6, 2007)
Labels: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout
posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Wednesday, October 10, 2007
7 Comments:
If there is a lockout next week, do you think off-Broadway shows will start selling out?
I'm the one with the big NY trip planned next week and we're just trying to think of alternatives. At least our tickets for Pygmalion are safe.
This whole situation sucks all around. Such a nice build-up to a vacation.
While tonight's shows are safe, the lockout could begin as early as tomorrow.
There has been plenty of speculation that Mayor Michael Bloomberg would intervene quickly because a Broadway shutdown would hurt the city tremendously.
During the last strike, his intervention resulted in a settlement after four days. If you do the math, a Thursday lockout + quick intervention could potentially equal a settlement in time for Tuesday's shows to go on.
As for your question on whether Off-Broadway shows will start selling out, I think for anyone who's going to NYC to see theatre specifically that they'll be eyeing their options, particularly for this weekend, quite closely.
Finally, I agree with you about the whole situation. The League is leaving a sour taste in my mouth.
I hope you're right, that even if there is a lockout there will be a speedy intervention. I was really hoping that, if there was a lockout, it would have already happened and already been resolved at the beginning of the month. So much for that timetable!
Anonymous, Let's just keep our fingers crossed that it will be over and done with sooner than later. I'm already preparing to miss one show on Saturday evening. I guess that's life.
I would suggest that before you cancel your trip, call the League and tell them not to shut down Bway. Then I would suggest that you call your travel agent, airline and hotel and have them call the League and tell them the same thing.
Daniel, I wholeheartedly endorse each course of action you've described.
To contact the League of American Theatres and Producers, you may call 212.764.1122 or e-mail them at league@broadway.org.
League President Charlotte St. Martin's e-mail address is cstmartin@broadway.org.
Director of communications for the League is Alan Cohen at acohen@broadway.org.
I suggest anything you say or write remain nothing but courteous, yet to the point.
It's 10 pm EDT (10/11/07) and still no word on any progress or any action that might close Broadway's theatres tomorrow.
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