Further to last week's story about Actors Equity organising Broadway production assistants (PAs) to seek voluntary recognition from The Broadway League (the organization representing theater owners and producers):
Actors' Equity Association has now filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to recognize them as the bargaining representative of the newly unionized Broadway production assistants after failing to receive voluntary recognition from The Broadway League. The government board will determine a schedule to hold a formal unionization vote among the production assistants.
"We had high hopes for a swift and collaborative process with The Broadway League, and are disappointed to hear they've chosen the more contentious path," says union 3rd Vice President Erin Maureen Koster, who represents stage managers. "That said, these workers are giving a master class in solidarity and it’s honestly our honor to witness that and to continue to support them through every step of the organizing process. One way or another, at the end of this process is the fair contract PAs have long deserved."
"These PAs are such essential members of the stage management team that when the employer hands out company contact sheets on the first day of rehearsal, they're listed alongside the PSM and ASMs," adds AEA President Kate Shindle. "Does anybody really think it's a coincidence that the vast majority of Broadway PAs are already Equity stage managers? This work clearly belongs on an Equity contract. If the Broadway League's going to make us run an election, we'll run an election, and we'll see them at the bargaining table after the votes are counted."
A statement from The Broadway League characterizes the move more congenially, saying that an NLRB election is the "proper forum" for the unionization effort. "The Broadway League and our members value the work of the Production Assistants that Actors’ Equity Association is seeking to represent," reads a statement provided to Playbill from League representatives. "We believe that the National Labor Relations Board is the proper forum for determining whether an election is appropriate and we have encouraged the Union to seek a determination from the Board."