A deal has been struck between TV & Film stage workers and the major studios to avoid a strike just a day before the deadline was set to expire. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) has been negotiating with the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers (AMPTP) since May, with the negotiations coming to a halt in September 2021. IATSE's goals included livable wages for the lowest-paid crafts; more turnaround time between workdays; actual meal breaks; rescue of the union’s ailing pension and health plan, and a bigger share of the revenue from streaming shows from networks like Netflix.
On October 3, 2021, IATSE members voted to authorize a strike with over 98% support from union members. It appeared that if a deal could not be reached by 12:01 am on Monday, October 18, 2021, IATSE members would officially go on strike for the first time in their 128 year history. A strike would have effectively shut down a large number of productions and impact the film and television industry in major ways that would have ripple effects for years to come. While many stars supported IATSE member's strikes, negations appeared to break down and a strike seemed imminent.
According to Deadline, IATSE and AMPTP have reached an agreement on a new contract to avoid a strike. While the full details on the contract are yet to be confirmed, some of the basic points include “improved wages and working conditions for streaming,” 10-hour turnaround times between shifts, 54-hour weekend turnarounds, increased funding of the health and pension plans, MLK Day is now a holiday, “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives”, meal penalties and a 3% rate increase every year for the duration of the yet-to-be approved contract, among other changes. No mention was made about streaming revenue profits or what exactly constitutes a living wage for lowest-paid workers. IATSE President Matthew Lowb released a statement regarding the news that can be read below.
“This is a Hollywood ending. Our members stood firm. They’re tough and united. We went toe to toe with some of the richest and most powerful entertainment and tech companies in the world, and we have now reached an agreement with the AMPTP that meets our members’ needs. Solidarity is more than a word. It’s the way to get things done.”
The current deal prevents a strike from happening, as many will report to work on Monday, yet it is not the end of the story and may only stall a strike for the time being. Many IATSE members are still not entirely pleased with the deal as it appears they are getting the bare minimum of what they are asking for. The contract must still be ratified by members of the union, yet that vote likely will not take place for several weeks, at minimum, if not a couple of months. If an overwhelming majority of them vote no on the proposed deal another strike could be on the horizon.
Filmmaking is often associated with the glitz and glamour of movie stars and high-profile directors and writers. While they are an important part of the film industry, they are only one part and IATSE represents a much larger section of the industry that often goes unrecognized for their hard work. After the COVID-19 pandemic, where many people turned to media to help get through the day, it was the many individuals IATSE represents that made a lot of that possible and they are as entitled to a living wage, comfortable safe working conditions, and basic rights as any employee. Much attention was paid to the lawsuit between Disney and Scarlett Johannsson over the release of Black Widow, but a case involving far more employees with less power also took place and many may not have known exactly how close Hollywood came to shutting down.
Source: Deadline
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