Strike - Actors?

So, I'm understanding both sides of the issue with the strike (and though I do side with the Union) I can understand a little of where both sides are coming from. However, what about the actors and musicians? It's not their strike (and though I would think most of them would and should be in support of the Union strikers) and they aren't working either. Unemployment pay is drastically lower compared to their normal paychecks, not to mention they have to show up every night for call as usual to prove they are ready and able to work. They can't do anything about it but their jobs are being affected as well... I just feel like there is so much attention being placed on the stagehands and the producers that the people caught in limbo (the actors and pit musicians who aren't able to work) are being overlooked, not like much can really be done about them right now anyway. Any thoughts?

Updated On: 11/14/07 at 02:45 PM

No it's not. You claim unemployment weeks over the phone or online. You don't have to leave your house.

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Strikes hurt a lot of people other than the parties involved -- actors, wardrobe, hair and makeup people, ushers, concession workers, box office personnel, plus restaurant workers (cooks, waiters, bartenders), retail workers, cab drivers, etc.....

And yes, it's a shame, but there's little than can be done. Actor's Equity (as well as most of the other theatrical unions) have announced their solidarity with Local One and have even encouraged their members to join the picket lines. Understand, that part of the reasoning behind that may be that Equity's contract with the League is up next year and I'm sure Equity is assuming that its gesture now in supporting Local One will be returned by the stagehands next year, if need be, when the actors have their own renogotiation with the League. Similarly, four years ago when the League threatened to bring in computer-simulated orchestra programs to replace the musicians, that issue was quickly put to rest when the actors refused to perform with those programs and joined the musicians in solidarity in the strike against the League.

All the unions seem to support each other in these situations and that support will continue until there's a resolution to this strike (mind you, as more actors, musicians and other theatre professionals continue to suffer financially while they're out of work, you can be sure that their unions will privately be putting pressure on Local 1 to settle this dispute ASAP).

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According to a couple of posters at ATC, in NY State you can't collect unemployment benefits due to a strike until the strike has gone on for 7 weeks or more. The strike pay is there to get them through the 7 week period.

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I was under the impression that the casts were still making there full paychecks which is why the industry was losing roughly 17 million a day?

You someone said, it's NOT their strike.

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No, the League is NOT paying the salaries of any show personnel (actors, musicians, et al) during the duration of the strike. All of them will have to rely on strike funds, unemployment or their own savings until this is over (some are getting temp jobs in the mean time).

That $17 million figure is something I think the mayor's office or somebody came up with as the total the entire city -- including restaurants, hotels, retail stores, tourism bureau et al -- is losing during the stoppage.

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With the shows canceled, I assumed the actors would no longer have to sign in at half hour, but I was just informed that out of support for the strike, they still have to? How does that work if there is no show?

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They don't have to show up and sign in.

But if they want to be paid, then it is highly recommended.

They have to prove that they were ready and able to work and it is not their fault that they could not perform.

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An excellent bad movie.

I thought the union was requiring them to sign in? Is that not true? If they're not required to, what's the point?

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They would have no claim against the producers since even though they did show up for work, they would not cross the picket line. They would not perform if the producers asked them to, so as I see it they would not have a claim.

What about actors who usually have a car and driver? Are the producers still paying for that, or do they have to take a subway/cab right now?

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The union reps the actors are signing in with are outside the theaters, in front of the picket lines -- not inside -- so no actors are crossing the picket line to sign in.

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Updated On: 11/14/07 at 04:36 PM

Also, the 7 week waiting period for unemployment benefits applies to the people ON strike, not the people affected by the strike. If you're considered an "innocent bystander" and the strike shuts down your job--but you and your union are not actually on strike yourself--you're eligible for regular benefits with the usual waiting period. So if you're Local One you'll be waiting; if you're AEA or AFM you can probably apply now.

Not that it's great, mind you...I think the cap on NYS unemployment is $400 AND it's taxed. Even with a strike fund it's hard to meet the rent on that.