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Stagehands ratify new deal ending costly 19-day strike

Broadway stagehands in New York City ratified a new contract yesterday, after a 19-day strike that shuttered shows and costs tens of millions of dollars in revenue.

About 1,000 members of Local 1 of the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees met at the Westin New York hotel and voted "overwhelmingly" to approve the contract, Local 1 spokesman Bruce Cohen said.

The five-year agreement provides for wage increases of 4.5 percent for the first year and 4 percent to 4.25 percent each of the next four years, according to a person familiar with the contract. The lowest paid stagehands will receive an 8 percent increase for the first year.

Among other changes, producers won a concession that they must hire a minimum of 17 stagehands to set up productions for musicals, down from a previous minimum of 22, the person said. The contract calls for a minimum of 12 stagehands to set up, or load-in, sets for plays. The previous contract had no minimum for plays.
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