Without doubt, the biggest news this month is the new Broadway agreement that musicians won after months of hard work. As Allegro went to press, musicians had just overwhelmingly voted “yes” to ratify their new three-year contract, which is retroactive to Sept. 1, 2025 and will remain in effect through Aug. 27, 2028.

In a future issue of Allegro, Broadway musicians will be invited to share what they learned from this campaign, but for now, let me say the following.

First, I’d like to share what I told the press: “After a hard-fought contract negotiation, Broadway musicians overwhelmingly ratified their new three-year contract, preserving industry-leading standards for the artists who power Broadway’s success. United in solidarity, Broadway musicians doubled down on their collective power with a 98% strike authorization vote. Ultimately, Local 802’s Broadway musicians, together with the actors and stage managers of Actors’ Equity Association, have proven that organized labor remains a potent force on Broadway.”

The contract was also won thanks to the steadfast solidarity of the American Federation of Musicians, Actors’ Equity Association, the International Federation of Musicians (FIM), the British Musicians’ Union (MU), the Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds, the NYC Central Labor Council, and elected leaders like Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker, Andy Kim, Chellie Pingree, Mike Turner, Mike Lawler, Jerry Nadler and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, among many others.

There will be much analysis about this campaign, but one thing is crystal clear. The campaign was won by the unity of Broadway musicians, who led the way from the ground up. Together, we made our case directly to the public that musicians deserved fair raises and no givebacks, especially in light of the League’s recent record season.

For years, the League had told musicians that they would have to “buy” their raises with cuts from elsewhere in the contract. Well, we had enough of that regressive nonsense and this year we rejected it completely, especially given that Broadway recently reported its most successful season ever.

Now let me get personal and share with you what I told the Broadway musicians collectively after we won.

Congratulations! This is your victory. Every single one of you.

By choosing to stand together, we were able to achieve gains without giving up anything.

The Broadway League came at us hard. Their seven pages of proposals attacked many of our long time, hard fought gains. They literally went for the meat and potatoes of our contract.

And we withstood the attack. We turned them back.

How? Because 98 percent of you signed onto our strike authorization vote. 98 percent! That very impressive number gave the committee confidence when considering how to address some incredibly difficult decisions.

98 percent said you had their back.

98 percent kept the League from not only decimating the contract, but offering terms that will go a long way towards stabilizing the Health Fund. The last time we saw gains of that magnitude to the health fund, it cost us plenty in lost work rules. The time before that it was accompanied by zero’s in wage gains

This time it cost us nothing.

The League’s narrative recently has been that we need to “purchase” our gains.

98 percent set the purchase price of those gains at zero.

Your willingness to walk directly translated into the best possible deal for us!

I could not be prouder of all of you and what we achieved here together.

The last thing the mediator told us at 4am on Thursday morning was that we could be confident that we left NO PENNIES on the table. I’d call that a win.

I want you to remember this moment three years from now.

I also want to thank your negotiating committee. A diverse, well- thought committee led outstandingly by chairs Steve Lyon and Sarah Haines. They created an atmosphere of respect which allowed the committee to work incredibly well together.

I say bravo to all of you!

I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with you.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the outstanding work of the organizing subcommittee. Also Dan Point, Mikael Elsila, Robin Donach, Rush Perez, AFM’s Gabe Kristal and Jacob Nardone as well as the entire 802 staff! They handled the mechanics of the supply lines, keeping the wheels of the campaign greased and turning. They always step up to the challenge.

I want to give a special nod to Principal Theatre Rep Theresa Couture. She is our guardian angel. Our not-so-secret weapon. Her love and devotion to this bargaining unit is legendary.

I am optimistic for the future given the solidarity shown by the Broadway bargaining unit.

Thank you everyone. Solidarity forever!

MET CONTRACT

Congratulations are also due to the MET Orchestra for winning a one-year deal with a solid raise and other contract protections. We thank the AFM for assisting with this negotiation.

BUILDING UPDATE

As many of you know, in 2022 our building faced multiple issues, including failed HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems, huge maintenance bills, as well as vulnerability to fines from LL97 compliance.

We knew we would need to conduct a renovation, but several complications stymied that effort.

Fast forward to 2025 and we are now actively exploring the options available to Local 802.

Recently, we met with AFM President Tino Gagliardi and AFM Secretary Treasurer Ken Shirk, to start exploring any and all feasible options to ensure Local 802 members can return to our building.

To proceed with the best possible information, Local 802 will be conducting a full financial analysis that will assess our various options, including servicing a loan from AFM or selling the building to AFM.

If we determine that Local 802 cannot service a loan or if AFM declines to purchase the building, we will likely explore selling the building to a third party.

But while Local 802 explores those options with AFM, we have agreed not to place the property on the market.

ELECTION DAY

I’d like to remind everyone that Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. The polls will be open from 6am to 9pm. Local 802 has made the following endorsements:

• Mayor: Zohran Mamdani
• Comptroller: Mark Levine
• Manhattan Borough President: Brad Hoylman-Sigal
• NYC City Council (district 2): Harvey Epstein
• NYC City Council (district 3): Erik Bottcher

If you have any questions about our endorsements or about how or where to vote, I direct you to Local 802 Recording Vice President Dan Point, who also serves as our political director. You can also check out www.laborvotes.nyc.

REST IN PEACE

Now I’m sorry to mention two deaths in the Local 802 staff family. It is with great sadness that I share the news that our longtime colleague, Alex Blake, passed away on Oct. 11, 2025 due to illness. Alex had been a valued member of our recording department for over 20 years and many of us will feel the loss of his presence in the office. Our condolences go out to his family and friends. There are many people working at Local 802 behind the scenes who are quiet heroes working for the members, and Alex was one of them. We also mourn the passing of former staff member Diane Tarbell at the age of 69 on Sept. 27, 2025. Read her tribute here.

LOCAL 802 WINS MAJOR COMMUNICATION AWARDS

Lastly, to end on some good news, I’m happy to report that our union magazine Allegro just won first prize for being the best labor electronic newsletter in the nation among state, regional and local unions as awarded by the International Labor Communications Association. We also won two social media awards for our social media. Our union is rising in prominence and it’s great to be nationally recognized like this. Congratulations to Local 802 Communications Director Mikael Elsila (who produces Allegro) and congratulations to us all!