Broadway’s stagehands union has voted on Sunday to authorize a strike over new work rules and regulations for its members.
The union has continued though to work through the month of December. The members of Local 1 which is part of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees voted to authorize the strike. Union leaders now have the power to put the strike into motion whenever they see fit.
The talks between the union and the League of American Theaters and Producers broke up on Friday but have since resumed as no one expects a strike to take place in the coming days. Stagehands have worked without a contract now since late July.
New rules which the union is not happy about includes the number of stagehands working Broadway shows and how long they work. There are no new wage proposals being put forth.
A strike should pressure on many Broadway theaters. Union reps have stated that stagehands will continue to show up for work as long as negotiations continued as they want to get through the holiday season.
The last Broadway strike was back in 2003 when musicians went on a walkout for four days.