The artists and stage directors of the Venerable Comedy of Chicago, the second city, threatens to strike if they are not able to reach an agreement with management on salary increases.
The Actors Equity Association has announced the possibility of a strike. Negotiations between the equity of the actors and the leadership of the second City have been continuing since February. Artists and stage managers are looking for a higher salary. The current contract expired on April 13.
“Salaries are number 1 with regard to our members of equity who work with Second City,” said George Elrod, member of the negotiation team for actors and interpreter in the tour company for the second city.
Elrod said that the negotiations have been cordial, but that the two parties are still “very distant” with regard to wages. “The workers of the second city are very dedicated to the strike for a decent salary, and this is something that the main negotiator can draw if the next meeting does not go well,” he said.
The next negotiation meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.
The second city belongs to ZMC, a New York capital-investment company. ZMC Bought the company In 2021 after the departure of the longtime co -owner Andrew Alexander in a controversy on the Diversity Record of Second City.
Instructors of the second city, which are in a different union, threatened In 2023 before reaching a contract agreement.
The second city did not respond to a request for comments.
Mike Davis is the Wbez theater journalist.
