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New Children's Theatre Company Pact Includes Major Gain in Health Payments

Health contributions topped the negotiating team's priority list for a new agreement with Children's Theatre Company of Minneapolis, and significant increases were achieved.

In the first year of the Agreement, health contributions will increase by 22.8% to $147 per week, which includes the $2 Supplemental Workers' Compensation premium. This is followed by 4.8% in the second year, and 5.2% in the third. Although salaries will be frozen in the first year, 2% increases were achieved in salary for the second and third years of the Agreement, bringing the weekly minimum salary to $686.75 in 2009.

The new Children's Theatre Company Agreement also features increases in the minimum Dance Captain increment; an option for a 401(k) plan for Actors interested in deferring salary for long-term savings; Assistant Stage Managers' preproduction increases to one week, and local run-out and touring rules have been clarified with more protections for the Actors.

The Equity negotiating team included members Marvette Knight, Sonja Parks and Jenny Friend. Central Regional Director Kathryn V. Lamkey and Business Rep Laura Lamoureux represented staff.

"The direct participation of the actors and stage managers who work at CTC and most especially the three members, Marvette Knight, Sonja Parks and Jenny Friend, who sat at the bargaining table with staff, made it possible for Equity to negotiate with the CTC management improvements that build upon the framework of our almost 20-year agreement and make CTC an even better working experience," said Ms. Lamkey.