Atlantic Theater, IATSE Reach Tentative Agreement for Off-Broadway Workers

The Atlantic Theater Company and IATSE are close to finalizing a proposed contract, which, if agreed upon, will extend protection to all laborers working in production for this Off-Broadway theater group.

The agreement was reached following a strike by employees at the Atlantic Theater in January. This strike ensued after talks about the first union contract for behind-the-scenes workers, such as electricians, carpenters, painters, wardrobe and costume staff, broke down during negotiations. As a result of the strike, two shows scheduled at this Manhattan-based non-profit theater, known for creating Broadway productions, were cancelled.

The agreement being suggested offers “substantial” raises in pay and perks, as stated by both involved parties in a shared announcement.

In February 2024, the Atlantic crew members decided collectively, without any dissenting voices, to join forces with IATSE, as part of a broader movement among Off-Broadway workers aiming for unionization.

In the midst of ongoing discussions that spanned over several months, when the call for a strike came, the theater company seemed to hold firm on certain conditions, as IATSE asserted, stating they were unwilling to compromise on their demands and continue negotiations with the union. This inflexibility eventually prompted me, as part of the union, to file charges of unfair labor practices with the federal government.

The choice to form a union among the workers was made following an assembly arranged by IATSE in July 2023, which was attended by approximately 100 employees.

Over the past few years, there have been numerous discussions about this issue, but with recent changes in the work environment – such as job losses following the pandemic and a growing demand for better health coverage and benefits – the workers chose to take action and move forward.

The teams behind the Off-Broadway productions of “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Titanique” have, for the first time, signed union contracts. This makes these Off-Broadway, non-profit theater companies the first to have labor agreements that apply to production roles.

Read More

2025-03-10 22:54