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 James J. Claffey Jr., president of Local One, fired the first salvo Sunday, declaring that the stagehands would remain off the job until producers started acting "honorably" at the negotiating table.
Speaking at a somber news conference, Claffey said the League of Theatres and Producers needs to make a "constructive" adjustment to its counter offers.
"We want respect at the table," he said. "If there's no respect, they will not see Local One at the table. The lack of respect is something we are not going to deal with."
Shot back Charlotte St. Martin, the league's executive director: Local One "left the negotiating table and abruptly went on the picket line."
She said the union "refused to budge on nearly every issue, protecting wasteful, costly and indefensible rules that are embedded like dead weights in contracts so obscure and old that no one truly remembers how, when or why they were introduced. The union wants you to believe they are the victims, the little guys."
Both sides seem far apart and have not talked since Nov. 8. The strike started two days later, closing 27 shows including "The Lion King," "Wicked," "Rent," "The Phantom of the Opera," Jersey Boys" and "Mamma Mia!"
The lengthy negotiations, which began over the summer, have been acrimonious as both sides sharpened their positions on what has proved to be the thorniest issues: work rules and staffing requirements.
The producers want more flexibility in hiring and the number of people assigned to certain jobs. "We simply don't want to be compelled to hire more workers than needed and pay them when there is no work for them to do," St. Martin said.
The stagehands say their benefits have been hard-won and that they won't give them up without something in return.
"We are being attacked," Claffey said. "We're fighting for our lives. ... A middle-class job we're trying to protect."
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 On Sunday, pickets again walked quietly in front of struck theaters in the normally crowded area west of Times Square. Pedestrians were few. Still, theatergoers could be found at the few shows which were still open for business. The productions include "Young Frankenstein," "Mary Poppins," "Xanadu" and "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," as well as four shows
-- "Pygmalion," "The Ritz," "Mauritius" and "Cymbeline"
-- playing at nonprofit theaters.
The same-day discount ticket booths in Times Square and at the South Street Seaport remained open, serving the Broadway shows unaffected by the walkout as well as all off-Broadway productions, which were up and running.
No new negotiations have been scheduled between the union and the league, and resumption of talks appears uncertain. Mayor Michael Bloomberg again offered his assistance on Sunday, saying "the city will do everything it can to help (reach an agreement)."
There were lines Sunday at the Times Square location, but it was not as crowded as usual. A sign said there were no Broadway shows available and suggested off-Broadway options.
Perry Welch, in town from Seattle, was in line hoping to get tickets to "The Fantasticks" or "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change."
"We had tickets for 'Rent,' (but) that's not going to happen," he said.
[Associated
Press; By MICHAEL KUCHWARA]
Associated Press writers Karen Matthews and Sara Kugler contributed to this story.
Copyright 2007 The Associated
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