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ATPAM: News: HL0303A

NEWS

March 6, 2003

Union coalition, B'way musicians in harmony

Strike looms if talks don't bring conclusion by tonight

By Robert Hofler

NEW YORK -- On Tuesday, the newly formed Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds took a three-hour meeting with officials from the American Federation of Musicians Local 802 and members of the League of American Theaters and Producers.

The union and the league are locked in contract negotiations, with the local threatening a strike if talks don't produce a new contract by midnight tonight.

Unsurprisingly, Cobug came down strongly on the side of Local 802. The coalition of 14 unions and guilds released the following statement of support: "The Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds is very concerned about the lack of agreement in the musicians' negotiations with the league.

"We support the preservation of live music on Broadway. Our memberships have expressed strong support for the musicians. The coalition requests that both sides continue negotiations.

"We also request that the league not rehearse with virtual orchestras or pre-recorded music while negotiations continue."

One source at the meeting said union reps voiced strong opposition to the virtual-orchestra rehearsals. "It is provocative. These rehearsals are not a sign of good faith in the negotiation process."

The league reportedly rejected Cobug's proposal regarding the virtual-orchestra rehearsals.

The new synthesizerlike technology, which provides musical accompaniment sans live musicians, may never be heard by a Broadway audience even if the musicians do strike. The stagehands (Local One) or the thesps (Actors' Equity) could very well decide not to cross the picket lines.

Sources have estimated that the stagehands are split down the middle on the issue of picketing.

Actors are reported to be nearly unanimous in support of the musicians. "The virtual-orchestra rehearsals have made them beyond furious with management," said one source who attended the Cobug meeting.

The thesps' current contract with the producers specifies that actors "shall not be subject to discharge, discipline, or replacement by Producer … for refusal to cross a picket line." The contract forbids wildcat strikes, stating that the action must be "sanctioned by the relevant parent national or international union."

At Wednesday's Cobug meeting, Local 802 prexy William Moriarity and several members of his negotiating team put forth their case for the musicians.

On the other side, producers and league officials that were present included Clear Channel's Beth Williams; Jujamcyn's Paul Libin; the Shubert's Phil Smith; the Nederlanders' Herschel Waxman; Cameron Mackintosh's Alan Wasser; and the league's Jed Bernstein, Seth Popper and Bernard Plum.