Actors’ Equity Members Vote to Ratify Broadway Contract After Strike Threat

Actors’ Equity has voted to ratify its contract with the Broadway League.

The vote comes after the union for actors and stage managers reached a tentative agreement with the Broadway League over a new contract Oct. 18, after threatening to strike if a deal could not be reached. After weeks of negotiations, Equity had voted to authorize a strike if necessary and had members sign strike pledge cards. A mediator ultimately stepped in and the tentative agreement was reached after an all-night session.

Seventy-one percent of eligible members voted to ratify the deal, but only 45 percent (or 1,456 people) of the possible eligible voters cast a vote, according to communications sent to Equity members. There were 3,268 eligible voters for the contract, which covers Broadway and sit-down productions across the country.

The musician’s union, Local 802 AFM, also reached a tentative agreement with the League Oct. 23, after threatening to go on strike the next day if a deal could not be reached. Members are still voting on whether to ratify that agreement.

The new Equity agreement, which remains in effect through September 2028, provides a 3 percent pay raise annually on the minimum salary for performers on Broadway, according to information shared with Equity members. Critically, the contract also saw increased contributions from the Broadway League, which general managers and producers, to the health fund for Equity members. This had been a sticking point for Equity in negotiations and leadership had warned the fund would fall into a deficit in May 2026 without the increase.The employer contribution rate, which is currently $150, will increase $25 a year for the next three years.

Additionally, the contract now imposes limits on how many times producers can schedule performers to work 13 or more consecutive performances without a day off. Producers are now only allowed to do this four times a year and must then give the actor or stage manager a day off. They were previously allowed 16 shows in a row with no limits and no days off.

And audiences may notice another change as part of the contract: Shows will now have the option to announce cast changes through QR codes printed in Playbills as well as by making verbal announcement or putting it on the cast list in the lobby. This makes optional the traditional practice of having paper slips in the Playbills.

“This was a lengthy negotiation, and a thorough one that resulted in progress across all of Equity’s priority areas: safe staffing, humane scheduling, sustainable working conditions and stabilizing the Equity-League Health Fund,” said Al Vincent, Jr., Executive Director of Actors’ Equity Association. “We are proud of the deal we achieved together, and we know it will make the lives of actors and stage managers better over the next three years. With the new Production Contract ratified, Equity and the League can now continue working together to bring audiences the best Broadway season yet!”

“We welcome today’s contract ratification by the members of Actors’ Equity. We’ve worked in good faith throughout this process and are proud to have reached an agreement that both sides can stand behind. The terms we achieved address the core areas of concern for our producers at a time when producing commercial theater is more challenging than ever. These reforms and the contributions in this contract represent real progress for both the industry and our workforce,” said Jason Laks, president of the Broadway League. “We look forward to working together to keep Broadway thriving for the 100,000 people whose jobs depend on the theater, and the millions who come to enjoy it.”