IATSE Preparing to Strike Against Major Producers

IATSE members are gearing up for a nationwide strike after negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have stalled. The decision to hold a strike authorization vote comes after AMPTP declined to counteroffer IATSE’s recent proposals for a better working environment.

“This failure to continue negotiating can only be interpreted one way. They simply will not address the core issues we have repeatedly advocated for from the beginning,” IATSE President Matthew Loeb and leaders of the 23 locals said in a letter on September 21 to union members. “As a result, we will now proceed with a strike authorization vote to demonstrate our commitment to achieving the change that is long overdue in this industry.” You can view the full letter here.

The vote is actually two votes: one for the Basic Agreement which covers 13 West Coast IATSE locals, about 47,000 members total. There is also a vote for the Area Standards Agreement, which covers another 23 locals located around the country. If the strike goes forward, then the impact will be nationwide, with TV and film productions around the nation being shut down.

The vote is to authorize a strike, but a strike is likely anyway, union members say. A special effects specialist in IATSE Local 44, Joe Martinez, told Variety, “They think they got us by the balls. We make the product. If we don’t show up to work, what are they going to sell?”

IATSE outlined their issues with AMPTP in a statement, saying:

“Throughout the bargaining process, the AMPTP has failed to work with us on addressing the most grievous problems in their workplaces, including:

• Excessively unsafe and harmful working hours.
• Unlivable wages for the lowest paid crafts.
• Consistent failure to provide reasonable rest during meal breaks, between workdays, and on weekends.
• Workers on certain “new media” streaming projects get paid less, even on productions with budgets that rival or exceed those of traditionally released blockbusters.”

IATSE negotiators are seeking safer working hours, more rest during meal breaks, between workdays and on weekends and livable wages, especially for those working on streaming projects that get paid less. With streaming becoming more popular, IATSE members have struggled with working conditions, particularly while working through this past year during the pandemic.

“No one should work so many hours day in and day out that they fall asleep at the wheel and crash on their way home.

Yet, we are aware of at least two workers that suffered through exactly that, just in the past few weeks.

#ReasonableRest is an urgent occupational safety issue,” IATSE said in a tweet.

To stand with IATSE and support U.S. entertainment workers in their potential strike, you can sign the petition to tell AMPTP to protect entertainment workers here.

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