Stagehands have settled their strike against the Ordway Theater in downtown St. Paul, after six days of picketing during the performance of 'Anything Goes.'

Matt Rice, business agent for Local 13 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, called the settlement a "win-win." A majority of the 60 Local 13 members who voted on the pact approved it, he said.

A key issue in the strike was achieving parity between female wardrobe workers and the mostly male stagehand staff. Rice said parity was not reached in the new three-year contract, but the Ordway has agreed to achieve it after the contract ends.

Stagehands went on strike against the Ordway on June 13, but the theater opened the Broadway play 'Anything Goes' without the union workers and has continued running the production. Rice said the theater was replacing stage workers with other Ordway employees and with out-of-town scabs. 'Anything Goes,' which runs through June 30, employed 25 Stagehands, 8 of whom are on staff at the Ordway. In the last year, more than 160 Stagehands have worked at the theater, Rice said.

The Stagehands are responsible for lighting, sound, scenery and costumes in the production.

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This article includes information from The Union Advocate newspaper, the official publication of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. Used by permission.