The Broadway League and Actors’ Equity Association have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, the two groups announced Monday.
Negotiated during the first two weeks of September, the production contract includes increases to weekly salaries and overall compensation as well as new protections for stage managers and swings. Equity members will have to vote whether to approve the contract by Oct. 15.
Among the changes, the new contract provides Equity members 3.5% annual increases to minimum weekly salaries, as well as increases to 401(k) contributions and media fees, according to information available to Equity members.
For new productions, the contract now stipulates that swings cannot be assigned to cover more than 10 ensemble tracks. It also creates a new position, “Temporary Assistant Stage Manager” to work on larger musicals that open cold using the production contract from the beginning of pre-production through opening.
It puts in writing a “commitment” to negotiating a touring agreement that would replace the short-engagement touring agreement as well as the national tour and tiered tour provisions in the production agreement.
On the other side, productions that have announced a closing date no longer have to hold required Equity principal audition replacement calls. There are also clarifications to who qualifies for chorus rider outs and for additional salary payments for ninth performances.
Equity’s National Council and its negotiating team has recommended that its members vote to approve the contract, with ballots arriving by mail or email this week.
Votes are scheduled to be tabulated on Oct. 16 and, if approved, the contract would become effective immediately.
The previous contract covered Broadway productions produced by League members and employing Equity members running between 2015 and 2019.
“This agreement is a win for Equity members who will have stronger financial and workplace security and for the entire industry as we have ensured that theatre can continue to grow and prosper on Broadway,” Mary McColl, executive director of Actors’ Equity Association, said in the press release.
“We are pleased to reach an agreement that provides meaningful benefits for all parties. This newly negotiated contract addresses areas important to producers and provides opportunities for the growth of the industry by updating working conditions to reflect the needs of a modern Broadway production,” Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League, said in a press release.
