On Wednesday, July 8, the 32BJ Service Employees International Union (SEIU) bargaining committee, representing Broadway cleaners, announced a tentative, four-year agreement was finally reached with the Broadway League. The Broadway League represents employers ATG Entertainment, Nederlander Organization, Shubert Organization and Circle in the Square.
More than 250 Broadway cleaners, a part of the 32BJ SEIU, voted to authorize a strike in June for the first time in nearly two decades, demanding their new contract secure fair wages, secure retirement and healthcare protections for essential workers such as porters, janitors and doormen. During contract negotiations, before the authorization, union members held multiple rallies outside Broadway theaters.
This wasn’t the first time such an impactful strike occurred. In 2024, away from the midtown stage doors, hospital workers represented by 1199 SEIU Health Care Workers utilized the threat of a strike during difficult contract negotiations. But after securing strong tentative agreements and contracts were ratified across various regions, the strikes were averted.
Then in 2023, Hollywood screenwriters and actors famously halted productions initiating the landmark WGA & SAG-AFTRA Strikes against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Soon the strikes resulted in an historic multi-billion dollar three year-contract benign reached for the WGA and SAG-AFTRA.
Given how closely these events occurred, their similar causes are hard to ignore. Across the entertainment and healthcare industries, union workers have been outspoken about their struggle during inflation to maintain their purchasing power as the cost of living has risen dramatically in recently, especially in New York City.
“We risked our lives during COVID to make sure Broadway could safely reopen,” said Martha Aristizabal, a porter at the Ambassador Theater and 32BJ SEIU member, in a statement. It’s been reported the Broadway 2025-2026 seasons were strong. “We work long nights and weekends, often missing major milestones with family and loved ones, to do the hard work it takes to put on each and every performance. This victory honors all that we’ve put in over the years. By winning wage and pension increases, improving paid leave, and protecting our health care, we can dedicate more to taking care of ourselves and enjoying time with the people we care about.”
The SEIU’s rank-and-file, just like other union workers, stood as a united front for their cause. They did it with the 119 SEIU Health Care Workers authorization that caused a work stoppage. Then, due to the WGA & SAG-AFTRA strikes, film and television productions were halted. The authorization made it clear if negotiations for the new contract failed, union leadership could call a strike. And once it was, union workers would not hesitate. Halting major production performances such as “Schmigadoon!”, “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” “The Lion King,” “Wicked” and “Chicago” at 30 venues and leveraging the threat of disrupting $30 million in weekly revenue.
“By showing our union power at the bargaining table and in the streets, we were able to secure the strong agreement that Broadway’s essential cleaners need and deserve,” said 32BJ SEIU Executive Vice President Denis Johnston. He also said in a statement: “This victory includes historic wage increases, pension increases, and expanding paid leave – all while protecting fully employer-paid family health care. Together, we fought and we won!”
Union workers stood their ground, stood together and made their voices heard. In a time when expenses are uncertain, support matters — which is what union workers found in each other. They organized more than just rallies; they built communities. Historic results were not met by simply waiting, they were met through community action. The rallies carried each other through which they knew would not be ignored.
Featured image: Photo by AkivaC CC BY-SA 4.0
Edited by Kester Kafeero & James Sutton
