reprinted from 

Ullico Bulletin 

October 2001, Volume 58, Number 2

IATSE Broadway Council Opens (Where Else?) On Broadway

Some Broadway theater marquees went dark when thousands of New York theatergoers stayed away after September 11. Although only a few shows folded, all but the top hits felt the pinch. So did the behind-the scenes union workers who keep the shows running. With box offices hurting, many were asked to take pay cuts of as much as 25 percent.

"The producers had to make their nuts, but we had to make sure that we were all being treated fairly," said Vince Callaghan, business representative of local 798 Theatrical Make-Up Artists/Hair Stylists, one of a number of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts (IATSE) locals representing workers in the New York City theater, film, and TV business.*

Callaghan, whose local represents about 1,000 members on the East Coast, 400 in the tri-state area, helped put together a coalition of IATSE locals, dubbed the Broadway Council, to negotiate in a block with the producers to keep the shows running and their members working. According to Callaghan, so far so good.

Forty-seven years a make-tip artist and union member, 12 in his current position, he says Broadway is already picking up. "You can't blame people for being frightened," he said. "But people get smart and come out of it."

*ATPAM is a member of the Broadway Council.  See associated article.