Less than a year after unionizing via IATSE, backstage workers at Off-Broadway's Atlantic Theater Company went on strike January 12 at 2 PM ET following a breakdown in negotiations with the theatre's leadership. Subsequently, the theatre has postponed its productions of Grief Camp and I'm Assuming You Know David Greenspan, both of which began previews this past weekend.

According to a statement from IATSE, the union and theatre leadership met to discuss contract terms January 10 and 12. On the latter day, theatre management "demanded several provisions before continuing its further obligations to bargain with the union," according to the statement. IATSE representatives countered this proposal but were told that the theatre was unwilling to back off this list of unspecified provisions. "The union believes this behavior from management constitutes an unlawful failure to negotiate in good faith, which caused the union to file unfair labor practice charges with the federal government. These charges were a motivating factor [behind] the crew being forced to go on strike ahead of the 2 PM matinee. In turn, the Atlantic management chose to cancel its January 12 performances, rather than make a deal for its workers that enable the shows to go on."

In a response statement from Atlantic, the company describes itself as "pro-union" and challenges IATSE's version of events. "Atlantic has been working together diligently with IATSE for months to create a fair contract for our crew workers and we have offered a good faith agreement with nearly a 20-percent increase in wages and other benefits," reads Atlantic's statement. "Recognizing how long a first contract can take, Atlantic offered two interim agreements over the past two months that included 13-percent increases in wages and health, effective immediately in return for a no strike agreement while we continue to bargain in good faith. Both of these offers were ignored."

“Atlantic Theater’s refusal to bargain fairly has left the crew no choice but to strike,” says IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb in a union-provided statement. “These workers deserve the same dignity, respect, and protections as everyone else in New York’s entertainment community—whether they work in front of or behind the curtain, on or Off-Broadway. Shame on them for not providing healthcare coverage to all their employees. We are prepared to resume negotiations as soon as Atlantic Theater is ready to bargain in good faith."

The unionization of backstage workers at Atlantic is part of a larger trend Off-Broadway, one that may well change the landscape of that industry. Prior to last year, the vast majority of Off-Broadway backstage work was non-union. Similar unionization measures have happened at commercial Off-Broadway productions Titanìque and Little Shop of Horrors, along with The Public Theater.