Actors' Equity Association, the actors’ union, is in negotiations with The League of Off-Broadway Producers and Theatres, which represents commercial and non-profit Off-Broadway theaters, for a new contract to replace the one that is scheduled to expire November 6.
Though neither Equity nor the Off-Broadway League is making its bargaining positions public, the Wall Street Journal reports that one of the main issues appears to be a salary increase.
Union president Kate Shindle tweeted the following on the subject:
#fairwageonstage: because it's long past time for our members to be able to pay the rent while working #offbroadway pic.twitter.com/1dMUua9d8m
— Kate Shindle (@AEAPresident) August 2, 2016
By contract, Off-Broadway is defined by the seating size of theatres, ranging from 100-499 seats. At the low end, 100-199 seats, pay currently starts at $593 a week. At the high end, minimum salary is $1,057 a week for theatres with 351-499 seats.
The size of the increase being sought was not reported, nor were any other issues in the negotiations.
Some not-for-profit Off-Broadway theatres are on a separate contract that has different rates.
(Updated August 10, 2016)