Strike - Actors? — Page 2

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.

These are reason why all of us hope the strike won't last too long. The Actors could actually claim that their working conditions did not meet the safety standards set by the City of NY. Many cannot perform without technicians to work the stage mechanics so how could they put on a show? So I feel they have an honest claim though unsure if it will hold up in court.

It is the League that has said they will not negotiate. I don't see any way for the Union to get around that? The rest of the staff are unfortunate victims of this but they also know this will have a long term affect on their working conditions in the future.

I feel sorry for the Restaurants and other business but people still have to eat? They will still shop. They might be doing it in other areas though where there are still shows but there are still shows open and racking in money that would have probably gone somewhere else. I just hope some resourceful Actors are taking advantage of this time to do other things to earn extra money to help them out like they would if they were usually out of work. The smart ones had insurance to help pay their bills or offset being unemployed suddenly.

Good luck. I fear we still have awhile before this will all be settled so don't waste time complaining too much. Find something profitable to do with your free time.

Thanks for that, Markymatt. That was my understanding of the unemployment rules, but I just didn't have the strenth to go look it up on the NYS Dept. of Labor website (I've been answering too many questions today).

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I certainly didn't want to, but I had to for my job, so I figured while I was there....

To me that says: If stagehands were striking against all theatres, then there would not be a problem. But, since they are not striking against non-profits, the Helen Hayes Theatre, The Hilton, etc., this exception does not apply.

My guess is that since it is not an industry-wide strike, auspiciously the worker could find other employment in his or her field. Obviously that isn't realistic, but when has reality really ever mattered to our government?

Updated On: 11/14/07 at 05:34 PM

Man I hope that none of the actors accidently left anything important at the theater the night before the strike. Like forgetting phones or other important things. That would suck to be not able to get it since that would be crossing the picket line.

They can always take nonunion work while the strike is on, and work under a fake name. SAG actors do it all the time when they take nonunion work.

Yeah, I know. Not cool. But it happens.

Updated On: 11/15/07 at 12:39 AM