Stagehands and Writers on Strike
Stagehands in theaters on Broadway in New York went on strike Saturday after three months of negotiations, the BBCreported.
The stagehands union, Local One, and the producers failed to work out an agreement about pay and working conditions and no talks are scheduled. This is the first strike that this union has called on Broadway.
"All but eight Broadway shows have been shut down," and is not clear how long the strike will last, the BBC said.
Those who have bought tickets will receive a refund, producers of the plays said.
The struck comes at one of the busiest times of the year for Broadway and could cause problems for shows with actors on short contracts and without advanced sales.
During a previous strike four years ago by musicians the city of New York lost about $ 7 million a day.
The League of American Theaters and Producers wants more flexibility in rules, so they do not end up paying workers for doing nothing. The stagehands what rules in place to say how many stagehands must be called, how long they work, and what tasks they can perform.
The strike of stagehands follows the screenwriters' strike that began in Hollywood last week.
Nation Public Radio reported that picket lines began forming around 10 a.m. on Saturday in front of Broadway theaters.
The stagehands have been working without a contract since July.
Leaflets from the Local One union said that "theater owners and producers are demanding a 38 percent cut in our jobs and wages."
NPR said that including other businesses that make money off of the people brought in by Broadway shows $17 million a day may be lost.
Some actors have joined the stagehands in solidarity.