Nederlander Org. Will Not Impose New Contract on Local One

NewYorkBusiness.com reports that "The Nederlander Organization, Broadway's second largest theater chain, told the stagehands it would not impose a new contract on the union next week, breaking unity with the League of American Theatres and Producers."

Because of The Nederlanders decision not to join The Shubert and Jujamcyn Theaters, some stagehands have reported they will not strike at Nederlander theatres, home to Rent, Hairspray, The Lion King, Wicked and the soon-to-open The Little Mermaid.  If a lock-out or strike is imposed, 22 Broadway theatres would go dark.  Non-union houses not effected by the potential strike include Studio 54, The New Amsterdam, American Airlines Theater and The Biltmore.

This decision helps Local One, the stage worker's union, gain leverage in its on-going debate with the League.  Since July, the union and the League have been in rigorous contract negotiations, which came to a stand-still last week when both sides proposed their "final offers."

With The League's plan to impose the terms of a new contract to stagehands next Monday, Local One have called for a strike-vote for Sunday.