B'way stagehands set to strike

NEW YORK, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Broadway stagehands are set to go on strike, New York One reported Friday.

The walkout is slated to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, before the matinee performance of "The Grinch," the TV station said, citing theater sources.

The union representing New York theater stagehands received a final strike authorization from its parent organization Thursday and declined a producers' offer to continue talks Friday morning.

Negotiations resumed this week after stalling for a month, but no progress has been made, The New York Post said.

Neither the League of American Theatres and Producers nor the union has confirmed the strike, New York One reported. However, the League has said ticket holders can exchange their tickets or apply for a full refund should a strike cause Broadway to go dark.

Shows produced by non-profit organizations or in theaters owned by non-League members would not be affected.

The sticking point of negotiations, which have been under way since July, is a proposal to loosen rules covering working conditions.

The stagehands' union, Local One, has never been on strike. Broadway musicians staged a four-day walkout in 2003.

A strike by Broadway stagehands could cost the New York economy $5 million a day in lost business, the newspaper said.