Theaters Begin Negotiations With Stagehands

The Broadway stagehands' union, Local One, and the group that represents the theaters will begin negotiations again in two weeks, with meeting dates scheduled on November 7, 8, and 9, a union source and the executive director of the League of American Theaters and Producers, Charlotte St. Martin, confirmed. The two parties have been at odds since October 9 when they both presented what they said were final contract offers. Last Monday, the theaters began imposing portions of their work contract on the stagehands.

The union unanimously authorized a strike vote on October 21, but could only go on strike with the approval of their international branch. The union source said a representative from the international branch would sit at the negotiations table.

The president of the union, James Claffey Jr., has said there will be no work in December without a contract.