Stagehands and Merkin Concert Hall Wrangle Over Contract The stagehands union and Merkin Concert Hall are close to sealing their first contract, but a dispute over the language in a strike clause has kept the two sides apart. The union, Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, said it would set up picket lines and inflatable rats on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Merkin has already begun paying stagehands at the higher negotiated rates and put in place new work rules. But a final agreement remains elusive after nearly a year of negotiations. The local said it had agreed to a "no-strike provision" for the six core stagehands that work at Merkin, which is part of the Kaufman Center. But it is insisting on language that would preserve their right to strike if another local of their parent union walks out, said a spokeswoman, Bruce Cohen. No other alliance local operates at Merkin, but Lydia Kontos, the executive director of the Kaufman Center, said she could not agree to the language because there was no guarantee another alliance local would not set up picket lines. "We want labor peace in the course of the agreement," Ms. Kontos said. It's really that simple. Mr. Cohen, however, said such language was common in Local One contracts. The Kaufman Center is also home to the K-8 Special Music School, or P.S. 859, and the Lucy Moses School, a community arts school. Mr. Cohen acknowledged that union officials had discussed the presence of the rats at a time when children were coming into the school. "After all the Harry Potter films, I don't think it will upset them," he said. Ms. Kontos called the rat plans "unfortunate." "We're just going to hope that they stay in the bounds of decency, considering our children," she said.