A labor strike will likely soon hit the theater industry in the United States, and unfortunately, the event has felt inevitable. Discontentment across various segments of the American entertainment industry has surged since the pandemic. These mounting pressures pushed writers and actors to launch massive strikes two years ago in Hollywood.
The effects of these strikes reverberated throughout other industries, and it was only a matter of time before the theater industry would have its day. Actors’ Equity Association and the American Federation of Musicians are the unions leading the charge in their fight for workers’ rights on Broadway.
The successful rebound of Broadway since the pandemic has been met with criticism from many within the industry, saying that producers have more than enough money to cover health benefits and increase the pay of workers.
They demand pay increases and higher producer contributions toward employee health care costs—a key sticking point. They also want protections to limit consecutive performances without a day off, urge the hiring of more backup performers and stage managers, and advocate for additional injury protections.
Both unions have voted in favor of a strike authorization, but no strike has been called. A potential strike would no doubt devastate Broadway, with many of its biggest shows using union work. According to AP News, this has led more than 30 Congress members to sign a letter “urging all sides” to work together to avoid a strike.
The last major strike on Broadway occurred in a 19-day walkout in 2007, which cost the industry millions of dollars. Unlike other entertainment sectors, the Theater industry doesn’t have the luxury of controversial technologies like generative AI to fall back on. Theater is one of the few creative industries that specializes in experiences that are specifically made to be seen in person.
