Negotiations have broken down!!

[Trailer Trash Jones]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 7:49am

As of 7:47 AM, according to NY1, talks have broken down and no further meetings are scheduled!
Updated On: 11/27/07 at 07:49 AM

[billynj]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 7:57am

Posted: Tuesday, 27 November 2007 7:51AM

Broadway Strike Talks Suspended


NEW YORK (AP) -- THE LATEST: A union representative says negotiations between striking Broadway stagehands and theater producers ended this morning - with no settlement reached.

http://www.wcbs880.com/Broadway-Talks-Suspended/1252717

[MarkK]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 7:59am

Entertainment Weekly is reporting the same thing. All talks are off until at the earliest tonight at 7pm.
EW

[Trailer Trash Jones]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:00am

Thanks! At least that has a more positive spin, like, "we need to get some sleep, but we're making progress." However, since no one will comment on further negotiations, I am afraid it's a bad sign.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:02am

Yeah... The EW report sounds more like a break like yesterday. The NY1 thing (which is not on their website yet) makes it sound like it's over.

[StageFan2]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:04am

Playbill is reporting no new talks have been scheduled. Anybody for a game of frustration and confusion?


http://www.playbill.com/news/article/113046.html

[Trailer Trash Jones]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:05am

Bruce Cohen, Local One spokeperson, is saying (live) that there is no deal, nothing scheduled and he is not blaming it on fatigue. He is saying they broke down because they couldn't come to an agreement on one particular point. He is reiterating that nothing is scheduled.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:06am

Darn that mopping. I guess they didn't hear about the BWW Mop Brigade.

[billynj]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:06am

is the union trying to break Broadway cause its only 30%-40 of the job sites they work ??

just reread the nov. 20th post from the league

To Our Valued Employees:
We are extremely disappointed that we have been unable to reach agreement with Local One. During
talks last Sunday, we offered significant concessions, and there was cause for optimism in the room,
which makes the current impasse all the more frustrating.
We continue to believe strongly that the contract must be modernized. Archaic and inflexible work
rules need to be changed. The industry’s future and the economic well-being of all who work on
Broadway depend on it.
However, we recognized that such change can’t happen overnight. That is why we withdrew many of
our original proposals and agreed to keep most of the work rules intact, in an effort to get a deal.
• We dropped the request to eliminate paying a flyman -- at $160,000 a year -- who has no
work to do.
• We dropped the request that Carpentry Department employees could assist each other,
which forces us to hire more people than we need.
• We wanted to be able to hire two additional stagehands until two weeks after opening to
help the show work out the glitches. We even agreed to pay more to them than the
regular crew. The Union said “no,” only one can be hired, and we said, “OK”.
In addition, the few changes we asked for are reasonable:
• The ability to start a four-hour work call or rehearsal at 2:30 pm rather than 1:00 pm, to
permit us to also set up for that night’s show. The Union said “no.”
• The ability to do a two-hour paid call before the show or a one-hour paid call after the
show to do certain limited work. The Union said “no.”
• We now pay more than $60 an hour, 8 hours per week, to mop a stage – even if it’s
mopped only once. We offered $25,000 to every stagehand who mops, in exchange for
reducing the rate by half, to more than $30 per hour for mopping. The Union said “no.”
The last proposal we presented on Sunday reflected a gradual approach and contained compensation
increases of over 20% for the next five years. Most in the room, on both sides of the table, sensed that a
deal was achievable. That hope was dashed when local leadership countered with an offer that, instead
of building on the positive momentum, moved backward.
Saddest of all, most of Broadway remains dark, and people in the industry and those who depend on it
are suffering needless economic hardship.
The facts are available if you want to learn more. Ask your union leaders and we will be happy to
respond to their questions.
November 20, 2007

[Trailer Trash Jones]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:07am

Bruce Cohen said it was a "quiet" and "mutual" breakdown.

[StageFan2]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:08am

Geez-a-lou! I'll mop the floor! Any volunteers wanna help?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:09am

Oh no, TTJ, I'm certain billynj will soon report that before leaving the stagehands trashed and torched the place.

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:10am

Ugh, I just want everything to work out, this has gone on wayyy too long!

[JKlock]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:10am

oh I'll help Stagefan, hell I'd do it for free right about now!

[billynj]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:13am

both sides are a bunch of Fking fools, not sure who will win this ... unlike you sheep I dont worsship at the feet of either side in this fight.

F them both at this point

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:14am

oh bat****---you constantly rail against the union.

[StageFan2]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:16am

Stagehands are notorious pillagers, playing practical jokes like turning lights off and on, messing with the sound, moving scenery around, taking candy from babies, that sort of thing. Baaadddd stagehands.

[justafan2]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:18am

Why do they meet all night instead of day talks? It seems to me that they must be exhausted and I would think it's difficult to negotiate with a clear head when you are that tired.

[billynj]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:22am

I rail against the LOCAL 1 union because I think they are using all the other union folks as their shield.... 335 guys are stopping everyone else from making a living...what kind of collective bargaining is that.

just keep saying this "I am out of work because of a $56.00 per hour floor sweeper"

maybe then you will wake up


if the local one had nothing to hide why don't they publicly tell all of us what they are asking for ...where is the full page ad in the times telling us what they have and what they want its called transparency.

you lose the right to secret negations when your job actions affect so many other peoples right to make a living ...can you understand that idea ... is that idea so outrageous??

[StageFan2]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:23am

We have one volunteer for mopping! Thanks JKlock! Good start. We'll mop for free, but they have to let us live in theatres. Alright, who's with me!

Future plans:
In three years we'll ask for health benefits.
Updated On: 11/27/07 at 08:23 AM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:28am

I am well aware of the various issues of this debate on both sides--possibly more so than you.

And the reason I and others go after you has nothing to do with which side of this debate you are on and everything to do with your smug, asshole, know it all, superior tone and posting of a gazillion smarmy threads.

And now you want to act like a "fair and balanced" bystander.

HA!

And baaaaaaa!

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:31am

"if the local one had nothing to hide why don't they publicly tell all of us what they are asking for ...where is the full page ad in the times telling us what they have and what they want its called transparency.

you lose the right to secret negations when your job actions affect so many other peoples right to make a living ...can you understand that idea ... is that idea so outrageous??"

The same can be said for the League. Why don't they open their books and show the actual numbers? How much they're making on subsidiary rights, concessions, the actual breakdown of costs? If you want transparency it should come from both sides, don't you think?

Updated On: 11/27/07 at 08:31 AM

[billynj]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:32am

I am as fair and balanced as FOX NEWS ...I side more with the league but at this point they are mortgaging the short term future of theater

The union is asking all other union members to stand by them, they should at least know what local 1 is asking for ...

Updated On: 11/27/07 at 08:32 AM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:32am

billynj only knows how to copy and paste articles. You expect him to understand the real deal?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:33am

"I am as fair and balanced as FOX NEWS "

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL--I agree! I couldn't have said it BETTER!