Unions slow pace of B'way concessions
Teamsters: No more cuts for at least 4 weeks
That's according to a union rep, from one of the many IATSE locals, who said the alliance had decided not to consider labor concessions for any other Broadway show for at least that long. The office of IATSE prexy Thomas Short did not confirm that assertion.
Last Wednesday, the New York locals of IATSE accepted across-the-board 25% pay cuts for members working on "Les Miserables," "Chicago," "The Full Monty," "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Rent." The next day, Actors' Equity, the American Federation of Musicians Local 802 and the Society of Stage Directors & Choreographers followed suit to grant the same concessions to those five shows. Later in the week, "Kiss Me, Kate" also was granted concessions.
This week, it's a different story -- which is bad news for the producers of "The Music Man," "The Rocky Horror Show," "Urinetown," "Hedda Gabler," "Proof" and "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife," all of which reportedly are seeking various labor concessions.
Jordan Roth, producer of "Rocky Horror," said he met with all the unions Monday morning to present his case. "They know what we need to reopen," he said. "They certainly heard what we were asking for."
The Dodgers, producers of "The Music Man" and "Urinetown," reportedly had preceded Roth in their presentation to the unions. Sources on other shows, however, said producers' meetings on Monday were "canceled."
David Lotz, spokesman for Actors' Equity, confirmed that the producers of "Rocky Horror," "The Music Man" and "Urinetown" had, in fact, met with the thesp union as well as Musicians 802, Directors & Choreographers society and the Dramatists Guild. "Their requests are being evaluated vis-a-vis the respective memberships," Lotz said.
Chris Boneau, spokesman for "Allergist's Wife" and "Proof," said those shows' producers were "continuing to have a dialogue with the unions."
IATSE covers stagehands, house and company managers as well as employees handling box office, scenery, wardrobe, makeup, props and publicity. IATSE New York Locals 1, 751, 764 and 798, the Assn. of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers 18032 and United Scenic Artists 829 are covered by the agreement struck with the six Broadway shows.
