Actors’ Equity Files With NLRB to Represent Production Assistants on Broadway

Actors’ Equity has filed with the National Labor Relations Board for recognition of the union as a bargaining representative for production assistants on Broadway and sit-down productions. 

The filing comes after Actors’ Equity says the production assistants did not gain voluntary recognition from the Broadway League. There are about 100 production assistants who either currently work as part of stage management teams on about 10 productions on Broadway, or have within the past two years that make up the bargaining unit. 

“The Broadway League and our members value the work of the Production Assistants that Actors’ Equity Association is seeking to represent. We believe that the National Labor Relations Board is the proper forum for determining whether an election is appropriate and we have encouraged the Union to seek a determination from the Board,” the League said in a statement. 

“We had high hopes for a swift and collaborative process with The Broadway League, and are disappointed to hear they’ve chosen the more contentious path,” said Actors’ Equity Association 3rd vice president Erin Maureen Koster. “That said, these workers are giving a master class in solidarity, and it’s honestly our honor to witness that and to continue to support them through every step of the organizing process. One way or another, at the end of this process is the fair contract PAs have long deserved.” 

The production assistants are hourly employees and conduct tasks such as preparing rehearsal materials, running errands and noting decisions made during the rehearsal process. The job typically runs from the time period before a show starts rehearsals through opening night. While the PAs are some of the rare non-unionized workers on Broadway, many are also early-career stage managers and are already members of Equity.

“These PAs are such essential members of the stage management team that when the employer hands out company contact sheets on the first day of rehearsal, they’re listed alongside the PSM and ASMs,” said Actors’ Equity Association president Kate Shindle. “Does anybody really think it’s a coincidence that the vast majority of Broadway PAs are already Equity stage managers? This work clearly belongs on an Equity contract.  

“If the Broadway League’s going to make us run an election, we’ll run an election, and we’ll see them at the bargaining table after the votes are counted,” Shindle said.