Equity has spent nearly two years trying to negotiate a replacement for the Lab Agreement with the Broadway League. In just the last few days, we’ve seen headlines that 2018 was Broadway’s highest-grossing year ever. And yet, the Equity members who go to work developing new work for Broadway on Lab Agreements have gone 12 years without a raise.

Equity is working to get a raise for our members when they are working to develop a new show. We are working to ensure that Broadway rehearsal time is paid appropriately, and we are working to ensure that actors and stage managers share in the success if the producer makes a profit. To get this, we need to strike.

We’ve heard from countless Equity members who have worked on Labs and in show development. The work has fundamentally changed since the Lab was created. Equity members in the Labs are making creative contributions and should be compensated fairly. They are writing new lines and developing original choreography. That means they should be able to share in the profits when a Lab goes on to become a Broadway hit.

Equity members may not perform or stage manage without an Equity contract. That’s rule number one on the back of the Equity card: Under no circumstances may you rehearse or perform in any company without a properly executed and signed Equity contract. Members may face union discipline and risk losing membership for any violation of this membership rule – which applies even if their membership is inactive.

CALL TO ACTION (Questions/Learn more in our action center/share on social media/volunteer).

The strike was not the first step in this campaign. We went public in November after countless attempts to negotiate a better agreement. Formal negotiations in December were unsuccessful.  

This strike only affects show development work. It does not impact currently running shows on Broadway, nor does it impact tours with the Broadway League. The strike is for the Lab Agreement, Workshop Agreement and Staged Reading Contracts and Staged Reading Guidelines with the Broadway League. If you are an Equity member and you are offered work on any show development with the Broadway League, contact NotALabRat@ActorsEquity.org. All communication between you and your union is strictly confidential.

Since we went public more than 100 Equity members have volunteered to help call their fellow members about our campaign. And we’ve had more than 2,000 Equity members sign commitment cards to support us. Thank you to all the members who have volunteered and supported us so far. We are strongest when we work together.

We will keep you updated during this process.