NEW YORK -- NEW YORK (AP) — The union representing Broadway's musicians reached a tentative labor agreement with commercial producers on Thursday, averting a potentially crippling strike that would have silenced nearly two dozen musicals.The American Federation of Musicians Local 802 — which represents 1,200 musicians — had threatened to strike if they didn’t have a new contract by the morning, after going into mediation Wednesday.Early Thursday, the union said it had struck a tentative deal that includes wage increases and contribution increases to the health fund."This three-year agreement provides meaningful wage and health benefit increases that will preserve crucial access to healthcare for our musicians while maintaining the strong contract protections that empower musicians to build a steady career on Broadway,” AFM Local 802 President Bob Suttmann said in a statement.The 23 shows that could have gone silent ranged from megahits like “Hamilton” and “The Lion King” to newcomers like “Queen of Versailles” and “Chess,” which are still in previews.
Plays would not have been automatically impacted.It was the second Broadway labor deal in less than a week.Labor tensions had already seemed cool after Actors’ Equity Association — which represents over 51,000 members, including singers, actors, dancers and stage managers — announced a new three-year agreement with producers over the weekend.Popular ReadsGovernment shutdown updates: USDA resumes some farm aid but bigger bailout uncertainOct 22, 2:29 PMIsrael-Gaza live updates: Vance arrives at Netanyahu's officeOct 22, 3:18 PM16 dead after 'devastating' blast at Tennessee explosives plant, sheriff saysOct 11, 8:30 PMMembers of both unions had been working under expired contracts.
The musicians’ contract expired on Aug.31, and the Equity contract expired Sept.
28.The health of Broadway — once very much in doubt due to the coronavirus pandemic that shut down theaters for some 18 mon...