Crying babies everywhere are shedding tears of joy, for the strike is finally over. All That Chatters look forward to returning to the "usual schedule of kvetching and bitching", which will probably be all about this, which I saw coming.
The Stagehands began their strike today, closing down most of Broadway. I have to admit, I'm often a little befuddled by strikes. I get that people are upset that they can't see The Grinch as planned, and the whole industry is going to suffer economically from it (well, unless you're Young Frankenstein or the stamp play). But looking at this and the WGA strike, it seems like the public often experiences the effects of a strike usually without much understanding of why it's really happening.
I find myself wondering, "what's really being argued about here?" According to Playbill.com, the union hasn't released an official statement, but fliers are circulating that read, "We truly regret that there is no show. . . Broadway is a billion dollar a year industry and has never been more profitable than now. Cuts in our jobs and wages will never result in a cut in ticket prices to benefit the public, but only an increase in the profits for producers. Unlike the producers, we are not fighting for our second or third homes: we are fighting to keep the one that we have."
Meanwhile, the League released a statement that uses vague accusations of the union being irresponsible and unfeeling towards the industry and the impact of the strike, but the only thing they actually say about why this is happening is this: "Our goal is simple: To pay for workers we need and for work that is actually performed."
I think it's an interesting, unfortunate situation where the industry and the public are all involved in the repercussions of the strike, but it seems like people aren't really talking about the negotiations, or what the strike is really about. And it can be interesting to delve into the gossip about what's being negotiated (or not being negotiated), but that can get sticky pretty fast. Theatreforte posted about how dismaying it is to see CNN wondering "What were the stagehands thinking... going on strike during such a busy time of year for the Great White Way?"
Anybody out there in the thick of it? Care to shed some light?
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