Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees ended its first week of “general” negotiations on a new contract on Friday, and will resume next week. The union spent most of the week focused on its benefit plans, which are facing a $670 million shortfall over the next three years. The Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plans extended health coverage to members who were out of work due to last year’s strikes, leaving an unusually large funding gap.