The Playgoer: Lockout Update* (*Updated)

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Friday, October 05, 2007

Lockout Update* (*Updated)

That extra week of negotiations apparently hasn't yet solved the impending producer-stagehand crisis on Broadway, according to Riedel at least:

As of deadline yesterday, the producers and stagehands were still caught up in what I'm told were extremely tense and difficult negotiations. Sources say the personal animosity between Bernie Plum, lawyer for the producers, and James Claffey, head of the stagehands' union, has poisoned the contract talks. Says a top theater producer, "Everybody's on tenterhooks."
Maybe they can recruit those tweens as scabs?

UPDATE: The absolute latest as of noon today, this just in from Crain's NY Business and their Miriam Kreinin Souccar. Negotiations extended today after officially ending last night with bupkis.
Yesterday’s meeting ended at 9:30 pm without an agreement, but the groups decided to reconvene at 2:30 p.m. today. The two sides have been in talks since their three-year agreement expired in July.
And some interesting analysis:
Insiders say that by extending the deadline repeatedly, as it has been doing, the League reduces its negotiating power. The association wants to settle the matter prior to November, the start of Broadway’s busy holiday season. If negotiations stretch into that period, the union would gain the advantage, because a strike at that time would cause the most damage.
Should producers be worried?
Last weekend Local One met with the other Broadway unions to seek their support if there is a lockout. Just as they did during the musician’s strike a few years ago, the Broadway employees agreed to band together.
In a word, yes.

If you have Broadway tickets for next week--or even this weekend--you may want to stay tuned...

1 comment:

Steve On Broadway (SOB) said...

Thought you'd be interested in the latest development. Surprisingly, the union blinked.

Do you think the rank and file will go along?