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Sedona's JournalIATSE Sets Strike Date for 60,000 Film and Television Workers, Ratcheting Pressure on Studios
Source: Variety
Negotiations to prevent a strike that could bring the film and television production business to its knees are going down to the wire.
Matthew Loeb, president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, said early Wednesday that unless an agreement is reached, 60,000 union members will begin a nationwide strike against the major studios on Oct. 18 at 12:01 a.m. Such a work stoppage would be catastrophic, halting production across the U.S.
Union members are demanding better hours and working conditions, saying that the surge in production over the past decade has led to long hours and dangerous situations on set.
Loeb said the union will continue bargaining with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers this week in the hopes of reaching an agreement that addresses core issues. The unions are seeking a 10-hour turnaround between shifts for all workers, as well as a 54-hour turnaround on weekends. They are also seeking increased meal penalties, as a way to force productions to stop for lunch, and an end to discounted rates for streaming services.
Read more: https://variety.com/2021/film/news/iatse-sets-strike-date-film-and-television-workers-1235088054/
IATSE Members Vote to Authorize a Strike With Over 98 Percent Support
IATSE Members Vote to Authorize a Strike With Over 98 Percent Support
Source: Hollywood Reporter
OCTOBER 4, 2021 11:12AM
Signaling overwhelming support for its union’s battle with producers over two expiring contracts, as widely expected, IATSE members have voted to authorize an industry-wide strike. This marks the first authorization of a nationwide strike in the union’s history.
Over 98 percent of eligible members from 36 Locals voted to authorize a strike in the momentous contest for the union — which bargains on behalf of over 150,000 crew members internationally, including cinematographers, operators, grips, editors, costumers and writers assistants, among others. This strike authorization vote concerns around 60,000, or about 40 percent, of those workers. Meanwhile, about 90 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot. Members voted simultaneously between October 1 and October 3 via ballots that were emailed to them, a little under two weeks after international president Matthew D. Loeb announced to members that the union would take the step amid stalled contract talks.
“The members have spoken loud and clear,” Loeb said in a statement on Monday. “This vote is about the quality of life as well as the health and safety of those who work in the film and television industry. Our people have basic human needs like time for meal breaks, adequate sleep, and a weekend. For those at the bottom of the pay scale, they deserve nothing less than a living wage.”
According to the union, during negotiations the AMPTP did not satisfactorily budge on critical issues 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” and “workers on certain ‘new media’ streaming projects get paid less.” With the vote, the union was hoping to demonstrate its workers’ solidarity and gain more leverage in these talks.
Read more: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/iatse-strike-vote-results-1235017990/
Much much more at link
IATSE Members Vote to Authorize a Strike With Over 98 Percent Support
Source: Hollywood Reporter
OCTOBER 4, 2021 11:12AM
Signaling overwhelming support for its union’s battle with producers over two expiring contracts, as widely expected, IATSE members have voted to authorize an industry-wide strike. This marks the first authorization of a nationwide strike in the union’s history.
Over 98 percent of eligible members from 36 Locals voted to authorize a strike in the momentous contest for the union — which bargains on behalf of over 150,000 crew members internationally, including cinematographers, operators, grips, editors, costumers and writers assistants, among others. This strike authorization vote concerns around 60,000, or about 40 percent, of those workers. Meanwhile, about 90 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot. Members voted simultaneously between October 1 and October 3 via ballots that were emailed to them, a little under two weeks after international president Matthew D. Loeb announced to members that the union would take the step amid stalled contract talks.
“The members have spoken loud and clear,” Loeb said in a statement on Monday. “This vote is about the quality of life as well as the health and safety of those who work in the film and television industry. Our people have basic human needs like time for meal breaks, adequate sleep, and a weekend. For those at the bottom of the pay scale, they deserve nothing less than a living wage.”
According to the union, during negotiations the AMPTP did not satisfactorily budge on critical issues 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” and “workers on certain ‘new media’ streaming projects get paid less.” With the vote, the union was hoping to demonstrate its workers’ solidarity and gain more leverage in these talks.
Read more: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/iatse-strike-vote-results-1235017990/
Much much more at link
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