Chances of a Strike? — Page 3

Is Little Bear Ridge Road not on a league contract? 

Also... is it gauche to go see a show that is open during a strike, would it be better to avoid any shows to show solidarity? 

No, supporting artists is crucial if this actually happens. With the busiest season for Broadway coming, this would be a complete disaster. I hope they can avoid it and meet their extremely reasonable demands.

Where is the article on BWW? It’s front page news on Playbill

DrMonicaDeMoneco said: "Where is the article on BWW? It’s front page news on Playbill"

BWW, for whatever reason, keeps a chronological front page, which means major stories regularly get bumped by such breaking stories as "Andrew Lloyd Webber Reacts to Lady Gaga's Phantom Tribute." 

HogansHero said: "" I guess this thing is really going to happen."

Actually, that's not necessarily true. A strike authorization is NOT a strike vote, it is a way of upping the ante with a view to avoiding a strike.

Equity's issues seem likely to be resolved, with the obligatory brinksmanship, and I think they have the upper hand in this negotiation. The musicians, on the other hand, are in the midst of an existential crisis I'm sorry to say. It's no secret that there is a contingent of producers - not a majority but a determined lot - are ready for a fight and angling for a strike. The authorization is the best ammo the union has, and it will probably work towards cooler heads prevailing, as long as it can avoid blowing themselves up (something that is not one of their strong suits unfortunately).

The bottom line is that no one can answer the question posed in the subject line."

The last time there was the possibility of an AFM strike, there was lots of talk about the so-called "virtual orchestra" that could replace the musicians. Could that be rearing its ugly head again?

Kad said: "DrMonicaDeMoneco said: "Where is the article on BWW? It’s front page news on Playbill"

BWW, for whatever reason, keeps a chronological front page, which means major stories regularly get bumped by such breaking stories as "Andrew Lloyd Webber Reacts to Lady Gaga's Phantom Tribute.""

Oooooooooh ok, got it. I think that’s weird how they bump it down, but, I don’t run this page, so I have no say! 

kdogg36 said: "uncamark said: "The last time there was the possibility of an AFM strike, there was lots of talk about the so-called "virtual orchestra" that could replace the musicians. Could that be rearing its ugly head again?"

If productions used a virtual orchestra in response to a strike, I can't imagine Equity actors would be required/encouraged/allowed to cross the musicians' picket line. Or am I being too naive there?"

Hard to say because it's so unprecedented. There's no formal reciprocal relationship between AEA and AFM, unlike AEA and SAG or AGMA. And CBAs like the Production contract have a provision that prevents work actions like that, so if AEA and the League agree and then ratify a new Production contract, it could put AEA in a legal bind. But I have to imagine that if the League producers pulled something like that, AEA membership would not take it well. 

So hypothetically lets say the musicians but not AEA goes on strike. Musicals are effected (except Ragtime), most plays are uneffected. "Oh Mary" features an actor who plays piano onstage  - Would that be shuttered as well? 

blaxx said: "ChairinMain said: "So hypothetically lets say the musicians but not AEA goes on strike. Musicals are effected (except Ragtime), most plays are uneffected. "Oh Mary" features an actor who plays piano onstage - Would that be shuttered as well?"

Affected, love."

We all knew what they meant, love. 

Play Esq. said: "Even shows now affected, and please correct me if I’m wrong about the last strike….wouldn’t they likely join in solidarity?"

As I think someone else said, there is a problem with doing that because there is a provision in the production contract that would preclude joining since AEA and AFM are not affiliated unions. If there were an AEA strike, rather than an AFM strike, AEA actors would be instructed not to cross their own union's picket line.

kdogg36 said: "If the musicians strike, and the producers try to keep shows open with synthetic music or some such nonsense, this is going to become a very sensitive thing. I will not cross the musicians' picket line as a ticket-buyer, and I will judge the **** out of any actor who crosses it."

You are confounding two or actually three separate things. Crossing a picket line of an unaffiliated union is a "secondary boycott" and that is illegal (and actionable). Adding in the idea of a virtual orchestra (something, as Kad notes, that is just theoretical at this point) is a separate can of worms for a bunch of reasons. I don't think that is a viable result from any perspective so I am not going to fret about it too much now. Finally, what you and I would or would not do doesn't really address a meaningful issue. Personally, I can't imagine being interested in a musical without music, and I can't imagine it would ever be financially feasible for a producer on Broadway.

As I believe I said earlier, I think there is a subset of producers of musicals who would like to break 802. At present the majority of producers want "cooler heads to prevail" (on both sides) but 802 needs to be more careful than it has been. Nuclear options are not good for anyone, and I would caution that Here Lies Love lit a fuse for some producers that will not end up pretty for the union.. 

I am a lot more concerned about this touring productions than I am about virtual orchestras.

The opposite but that should not be read as suggesting that an individual actor breaks the law when they choose to do or not do something. The aim is to prevent a boycott, which is a sort of collective action, although of course a person who does not show up for work may suffer consequences of their actions just as most others would.