The membership of Actors Equity, the actors' and stage managers' union, has voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if the union cannot reach a new contract with producers by June 27, when the current deal expires.þþThe vote, which is largely a formality, was first reported yesterday by Backstage.com after results were posted on the members-only page of the Equity Web site. On Wednesday the union and the League of American Theaters and Producers, which represents the producers in negotiations, issued a joint statement announcing a media blackout.þþÿWe are making progress in our production contract negotiations,ÿ the statement read. ÿWe recognize that our interests are best served at this time by concentrating on the complex issues at the bargaining table. We will not be making further public statements about the negotiations unless and until there are significant developments to report.ÿþþThe vote outcome, posted on www.actorsequity.org, showed that union members had almost unanimously authorized a strike, with 98 percent voting in favor. Last month the union sent out ballots to about 6,000 members who have worked under a production contract (meaning Broadway or major road shows) in the last eight years. The league had no comment on the vote.þþA spokeswoman for the union, Maria Somma, played down the vote in a statement approved by both Equity and the league. ÿThe strike authorization vote is a standard procedural step and does not mean there will be a strike,ÿ she said.þþNegotiations, which began in early April, have involved several major issues, including health care and non-Equity tours. The union seeks to limit such tours, which are cheaper for producers to stage because they use nonunion actors. The league, whose members are not allowed to use nonunion actors, says it also disapproves of non-Equity tours but wants the union to consider lower pay scales for league tours.þþNegotiators met yesterday and are scheduled to meet again today.þþ
Source: NY Times
