Backstage workers at Off-Broadway's Public Theater have voted to ratify a new union contract negotiated by production worker union IATSE. Union representatives reached a tentative agreement with Public's management in July. This ratification enacts the contract for the company's more-than-100 backstage workers as of September 1.

The new contract offers "meaningful wage increases and comprehensive benefits, providing long-term stability and protections for the production workforce," per a joint statement from IATSE and The Public. The contract was ratified via a nearly unanimous vote of 112 to three.

"The new agreement is a strong step forward for all of us at The Public; it represents the care and hope of the workers and the continued evolution of The Public as a whole,” said scenic artist Jacob Claire in a statement. “It's exciting to be represented by IATSE under an agreement that will help many receive insurance, begin prepping for retirement, and have a place where we can be proud to work."

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.

Unlike Atlantic Theater Company, the Public's negotiation process did not involve a worker strike, nor impact the theatre's programming. The company recently finished its 2024-2025 season as it was originally announced, with the upcoming season set to kick off with John Leguizamo's The Other Americans this month. The company is also currently presenting the return of their annual Free Shakespeare in the Park offering at the newly refurbished Delacorte Theater in Central Park, and just closed a Public Works musical adaptation of Shakespeare's Pericles at Cathedral St. John the Divine.