Actors’ Equity, the union representing performers and stage managers, has withdrawn its bid to stage a touring production of “Waitress” and has instead filed a complaint against the musical’s producers.
The union last month petitioned the National Labor Relations Board seeking an election to represent the non-union touring cast and stage managers, saying they were doing the same job as those who worked for a touring production of the same show, but many got paid less.
But on Thursday, the union said it was withdrawing the petition because the producers of the non-union tour said they would end the run in June, which is too early for the election process. The union said the tour had previously scheduled performances for next year.
The union said it had filed a complaint against the musical’s licensors, Barry and Fran Weissler and the National Artists Management Company (NAMCO), for “double-breasting” — the simultaneous conduct of unionized and non-union operations.
A spokesperson for “Waitress” did not immediately respond to a request for comment.