IATSE Holding Strike Authorization Vote Next Week
One of the most important unions in Hollywood could soon be walking off the job that could paralyze the entire entertainment industry.
Image courtesy of Hollywood Reporter
After months of contract negotiations that have failed to reach an agreement, The Hollywood local division of The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees better known as IATSE has announced they will be sending out a strike authorization vote to all 13 of its Local Branches on October 1st 2021. This vote is action against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers or The AMPTP, the organization representing the film and television studios. Should 75% or more of IATSE vote ‘yes’ in support of calling a strike (if necessary), the union representing cinematographers, editors, set designers, and key grips just to name a few positions represented by the alliance, may bring the entire industry to a standstill in a way that would make the Writers Strike of 2007-08 seem like a walk in the park.
In these negotiations, IATSE is asking the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) for what is reasonable and achievable work conditions. A 10 hour work day (instead of the 12+ that most productions require these days), equitable rest, meal breaks and fair pay that provides living wages in an expensive city like Los Angeles are just a few of the key asking points from The Alliance. IATSE president Matthew Loeb, in a statement to members about negotiations and the referendum vote, criticized the companies for not negotiating reasonably saying, “It is incomprehensible that the AMPTP claims it cannot provide behind-the-scene crews with basic human rights. Worse, management does not appear to even recognize our core issues as problems that exist in the first place.”
Indeed, Loeb is specifically calling out these studios that are making record profits off theatrical, television and now streaming revenue yet when it comes to providing the lowest paid members on the call sheet fair terms that will help them financially and emotionally, they either cry poverty claiming the pandemic has forced them to make cut backs or make claims that streaming or ‘New Media’ as referred to in the Basic Agreement is still an experimental phase. Given that last week’s Emmy Awards saw more than two thirds of the winners come from streaming series including the top three series awards, those cries don’t exactly hold high water anymore.
As for the demand for 10 hour days, that goes without saying. Many crew members have long felt that being forced to work 12 hours or more on a given day has long been an issue, the pandemic work stoppage last year and slow return to work has only strengthened the call for more reasonable hours that allow members the chance to have rest and spend time with friends and family. Over on Instagram, hundreds of IATSE members have started an account called IA Stories that have allowed crew to anonymously give first hand accounts of their experience with unsafe conditions and how they will not be tolerated anymore. Just last week, the union stated that in the first half of the year, they received over 50 hours of reports claiming of 14 or more hours on a set with many more likely yet to be confirmed.
“It is incomprehensible that the AMPTP claims it cannot provide behind-the-scene crews with basic human rights. Worse, management does not appear to even recognize our core issues as problems that exist in the first place.”
Labor action in Tinseltown against management is nothing new. While this potential strike would be the first union wide walkout in its 128 year history, a few of the guild’s branches have had historic work stoppages during the Golden Age of the Studio System. In 1941, animators at Walt Disney Studios went on strike over Disney’s refusal to share in the immense profits from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves”, while in 1945, a six month from the set decorators local led to a violent riot outside the Warner Bros studio. Probably the most famous example in recent years was the 100 day Writers Guild of America strike from November 2007- February 2008 where writers, having never forgotten how the AMPTP screwed talent out of a fair cut of the home video formula, walked out for residuals in digital streaming and download to show management they wouldn’t let history repeat itself.
In the meantime, work will continue on shows and movies even as IATSE starts taking their strike vote on October 1 with the results being revealed a few days later. The hope is that a 75% or higher of votes that support the authorization will give the union’s negotiators greater leverage in getting the AMPTP back to the table and try and get a fair contract. Should this not work, they will have the ability to call a strike. If it comes to that, nearly all film and television production in Hollywood would come to a stop. Luckily for IATSE , they have been supported by fellow unions like The WGA, The DGA and SAG-AFTRA as well as actors like Seth Rogen, Ben Stiller, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and many more.
As lovers of all things movie and television, we at FilmSpeak fully support IATSE in their efforts to get a fair deal. We have tremendous respect for anyone who works on a film or show whether above or below the line as crew help enhance a director’s vision and make actors look better. Yet, they should not have to sacrifice their health and well-being for mere entertainment and the current conditions should not be tolerated or excused any longer. We urge every member of IATSE to vote YES on the strike authorization, that as many high profile actors and filmmakers show their support as well and we would urge the AMPTP to give this some much needed thought, and make the best decision for the entire industry. A fair negotiation that gives crew members simple rights or a work stoppage that affects everybody. The choice is on them.