IATSE strikes against Atlantic Theater Company; 2 productions postponed

We have just arrived from the Atlantic Theater Company and IATSE, who are engaged in months-long negotiations. Negotiations between IATSE and the Atlantic Theater Company broke down, prompting crew members to go on strike effective immediately. The strike began before today’s 2 p.m. matinee performance.

In February 2024, the Atlantic Theater team was the first group to unionize with IATSE at a large non-profit theater located off-Broadway. However, several months later, little progress has been made in concluding a first contract.

Atlantic Theater Company has just released the following statement: “Unfortunately, the International Alliance of Theater Stage Employees (IATSE) has decided to strike against Atlantic Theater Company. As a result, we are forced to postpone our production of Bereavement camp And I assume you know David Greenspan.

Atlantic has been working diligently with IATSE for months to create a fair contract for our crew workers and we have proposed a good faith agreement with a nearly 20% increase in wages and other benefits. Recognizing how long a first contract can take, Atlantic has offered two interim deals in the past two months that include 13% wage and health care increases, effective immediately, in exchange for a no-strike deal. while we continue to negotiate in good faith. Both of these offers were ignored.

We believe equity on our stage is crucial and our offering aligns with our contract with the Actors’ Equity Association. IATSE believes this is unacceptable and wants more. Additionally, the union is attempting to expand its labor jurisdiction beyond theater productions.

The world of Off-Broadway theater is changing rapidly: many nonprofits are running shorter seasons and choosing plays with smaller casts, the media coverage that can drive ticket sales is never guaranteed, the costs advertising costs continue to increase and production costs have almost doubled since the pandemic. Most of Off-Broadway faces a precarious financial situation, running large deficits since returning from Covid. If IATSE succeeds in achieving the financial results it is proposing with Atlantic, it would set a precedent for other Off-Broadway companies and we could see the demise of some of our largest institutions, including Atlantic.

Atlantic is pro-union and works collaboratively with several other unions, but we have to make this deal financially viable for everyone, or we won’t be around to provide work for anyone. We hope that IATSE will reconsider its position and work with us to quickly reach a fair contract for our production team. »

IATSE responded by sharing, “The union remains committed to reaching a fair deal for the workers who make Atlantic Theater productions possible.

The strike follows several months of negotiations that began after Atlantic crew voted almost unanimously in favor of unionizing with IATSE in February 2024. Despite months of effort and proposals for good faith of the union, management has constantly blocked progress and made unilateral demands on working conditions. The union filed unfair labor practice charges against Atlantic Theater regarding numerous issues that arose during this period. The parties recently met on January 10 and 12. On January 12, Atlantic Theater Company management demanded several provisions before continuing its bargaining obligations with the union. The union initially opposed the proposal, after which management indicated it was not prepared to completely abandon its demands. The union continues to await a counter-proposal from across the Atlantic.

The union believes this behavior by management constitutes an illegal failure to bargain in good faith, leading the union to file an unfair labor practice complaint with the federal government. These accusations were a motivating factor that forced the crew to go on strike before the 2:00 p.m. In turn, Atlantic management chose to cancel its January 12 performances, rather than reach an agreement for its workers allowing shows to continue.

“The Atlantic Theater’s refusal to negotiate fairly left the team with no choice but to strike,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. “These workers deserve the same dignity, respect and protection as everyone else in New York’s entertainment community, whether they work in front of or behind the curtain, on or off Broadway. Shame on them for not offering health coverage to all their employees. We are prepared to resume negotiations as soon as Atlantic Theater is ready to negotiate in good faith. The Atlantic Theater Company has benefited significantly from public funds in recent years, receiving more than $4.3 million from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) as part of the Save Our Stages Act of 2021, as well as 205 $000 in grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). ) over the last decade. These funds were intended to support artistic institutions. »