Backstage workers at Off-Broadway's The Public Theater have reached a tentative agreement with theatre management for an IATSE contract. The contract, if approved in a union vote, would cover more than 100 employees, and provide "meaningful wage increases and comprehensive benefits that recognize the essential contributions of the production crew to The Public’s artistic mission and continued success," according to a joint statement released by the Public and IATSE.
The workers voted to unionize last year after The Public declined to voluntarily recognize the backstage workers' union. The move is part of a growing trend at Off-Broadway companies, most notably following Atlantic Theater Company's successful contract negotiation earlier this year. Backstage work had been largely non-union in the Off-Broadway landscape, but that is becoming more rare.
Unionizing allows workers to collectively bargain, in hopes of improving working conditions, raising salaries, gaining health benefits, and more. Higher wages and other demands that often come with unionizations will also, however, raise production costs, which has the potential to come with higher-priced tickets and other changes to the Off-Broadway business model.
When the group initially voted to unionize in 2024, it included the Public's production employees with the exception of the wardrobe, logistics, and production management departments, along with production department supervisors, associate supervisors, and assistant technical directors.
“I'm proud of this agreement, which makes The Public more sustainable and equitable,” says props artisan Rachel Kenner in a statement. “I'm excited for all of the opportunities and protections that the union offers us; this whole process has been very collaborative, and I look forward to forging our new path as unionized workers."
“Reaching this major milestone would not have been possible without the support, good faith, and leadership of so many people both around the table and working tirelessly on the ground," adds Public Theater Executive Director Patrick Willingham. "The Public has a proud history of pro-union collaboration, and we believe openness and creative problem-solving are the bedrock of this work.”
Unlike Atlantic Theater Company, the Public's negotiation process did not involve a worker strike, nor impact the theatre's programming. The company recently closed its 2024-2025 season as it was originally announced, with the upcoming season set to kick off with John Leguizamo's The Other Americans in September. This summer will also see the return of the company's Free Shakespeare in the Park offering following a year off while Central Park's Delacorte Theater was refurbished, with a staging of Twelfth Night starring Peter Dinklage, Lupita Nyong'o, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sandra Oh, and more to begin performances next month.
