If a writers’ strike wasn’t enough to bring the entertainment industry to a screeching halt, how about a good old fashion Broadway walk-out. On Saturday, stagehands decided to cap off strike week by walking out on Broadway. They’re demands for a pay raise went unheard, so they joined the writers’ in picketing against producers.
Picket Signs read: ‘Our families are number one.’ Broadway stagehands on strike against takebacks by the Leage of America Theatres and Producers.
It’s a sad week for entertainment. The stagehand strike will wipe out an estimated $17 million a day from theatre tickets to parking and dining. Many tourists who travel oversees to New York, and love nothing more than to see a Broadway show will be sadly disappointed.
Negotiations for the strike were at a stand still throughout October. But unlike the writers’ strike, the stagehands reportedly shutdown the lights on Broadway without “official” warning.
Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of the League of American Theatres and Producers, said, “They have chosen to strike, without notifying us, rather than to continue negotiating. It is a sad day for Broadway, but we must remain committed to achieving a fair contract.”
There are only eight shows that will remain running on Broadway, since they are not covered under union guidelines: “Cymbeline,” “Mary Poppins,” “Mauritius,” “Pygmalion,” “The Ritz,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Xanadu” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
Broadway alone brings in close to $5 billion in revenue to the economy, and employs tens of thousands of workers. The WGA and Stagehands strikes will have a significant impact on New York City, LA and the overall economy.
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