The Great White Way will surely go dark if a deal isn’t struck between Broadway producers and another one of its most important labor unions.
American Federation of Musicians Local 802, the union representing 1,200 musicians on Broadway, announced on Monday that its members have voted to authorize a strike amid ongoing negotiations with The Broadway League over a new standard contract.
This group is the latest among live theater workers in New York City to consider a strike as they strive for better wages, healthcare coverage, and job security.
Barry Williams/ New York Daily News
In July, mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani won the endorsement of the AFM Local 802 musicians’ union. (Barry Williams/ New York Daily News)
The union has been operating without a contract since August 31. On October 1, it outlined its demands in an open letter to the Broadway League, which is the trade group representing 700 producers, theater owners, and Broadway production managers.
About 98 percent of the voters supported authorizing a strike. However, this does not mean a strike will happen immediately, as more bargaining sessions are planned soon.
Broadway musicians previously went on strike for five days in 2003.
Bruce Glikas/Getty Images
In March 2003, musicians from AFM Local 802 went on strike, shutting down most Broadway productions. (Photo By Bruce Glikas/Getty Images)
The last strike action on Broadway was initiated by stagehands in the fall of 2007, which kept most shows dark for 19 days.
In the past year, Broadway has generated $1.89 billion in ticket sales with 14.7 million attendees. The Broadway League states that the 2024-2025 season is the highest-grossing one ever.
“After such a successful season, the Broadway League wants the working musicians and artists, who were key to this achievement, to face wage cuts, reduced healthcare benefits, and potential job losses,” AFM Local 802 president Bob Suttmann said. “Facing such a significant decline in working conditions, Local 802 Broadway musicians and other artists are prepared to use all their collective power, including the possibility of a strike.”
“Committing to anything less would mean sacrificing far too many hard-won gains,” he added.
The musicians’ labor move follows Actors’ Equity Association, who authorized strike action earlier this month. That group represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers.
If the actors go on strike, it would affect 26 out of 31 shows on Broadway.
Because they are operating under different contracts, a handful of shows — “Beetlejuice,” “Mamma Mia!,” “Punch” the Scott Rudin-produced “Little Bear Ridge Road” and Lincoln Center’s new revival of “Ragtime” — will able to go forward amid labor actions.
“Good-faith negotiations happen at the bargaining table, not in the press,” a rep for the Broadway League told The Daily News Monday. “We value our musicians and we are committed to working in good faith to get a fair contract done.”
