The bargaining committee of the 32BJ SEIU union representing Broadway cleaners reached a tentative contract agreement with the Broadway League theater owners, avoiding a potential strike that had been authorized by workers the previous week. The agreement secures historic wage and pension increases, expanded paid leave, and protected employer-paid family health care for 250 cleaners working on Broadway's top shows.
π The Backstory
Broadway cleaners, who work on shows including Chicago, Aladdin, Schmigadoon, and Cats: The Jellicle Ball, had been negotiating for better wages and conditions. Workers had risked their lives during COVID-19 to keep Broadway running safely. The strike authorization reflected growing labour activism in the entertainment industry post-pandemic.
π― Why It Matters
The agreement averts a disruption that could have affected Broadway's summer season, one of its busiest periods. It also represents a significant win for low-wage theatre workers, setting a potential precedent for other behind-the-scenes Broadway unions negotiating contracts.
The bargaining committee of the 32BJ SEIU union representing Broadway cleaners reached a tentative contract agreement with the Broadway League theater owners, avoiding a potential strike that had been authorized by workers the previous week. The agreement secures historic wage and pension increases, expanded paid leave, and protected employer-paid family health care for 250 cleaners working on Broadway's top shows.
Broadway cleaners, who work on shows including Chicago, Aladdin, Schmigadoon, and Cats: The Jellicle Ball, had been negotiating for better wages and conditions. Workers had risked their lives during COVID-19 to keep Broadway running safely. The strike authorization reflected growing labour activism in the entertainment industry post-pandemic.
The agreement averts a disruption that could have affected Broadway's summer season, one of its busiest periods. It also represents a significant win for low-wage theatre workers, setting a potential precedent for other behind-the-scenes Broadway unions negotiating contracts.