IATSE

🚨 JOINT STATEMENT: Hollywood Unions, Guilds #StandWithAnimation Ahead of The Animation Guild’s Negotiations with Studios “We stand with the members of TAG as they seek contractual provisions that set fair wages and working conditions, prevent overwork, and safeguard workers from the impact of artificial intelligence. TAG negotiates independently of IATSE’s West Coast Studio Locals to address the unique priorities of animation workers, and they do so with our full collective backing. We also call on the AMPTP to negotiate in good faith, show you value and respect your animation workers, and make meaningful moves to address their specific priorities.” The Animation Guild’s negotiations with the AMPTP are slated to begin Monday, August 12, with their contract extension set to expire Friday, August 16. All industry union members are encouraged to support TAG’s negotiations by attending the “Stand With Animation Contract Negotiations Kickoff Rally” on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 5-6:30 pm at IATSE Local 80 at 2520 West Olive Avenue #Suite 200 Burbank, CA 91505. RSVP at https://lnkd.in/e7BUJUSx The statement was signed by - American Federation of Musicians of the US & Canada - Directors Guild of America (DGA) - International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) - International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 40 - International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 399 (IBT) - Laborers International Union of North America Local 724 (LiUNA!) - Operating Plasterers & Cement Masons International Association (OPCMIA) Local 755 - Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) - United Association of Union Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and Service Techs Local 78 (UA) - Writers Guild of America East - WGAE - Writers Guild of America West (WGAW)

🚨 BREAKING: AppleTV Visual Effects Workers Unanimously Vote to Unionize in Labor Board Election This result marks another key win in the movement to ensure VFX professionals have access to the same rights and protections as unionized workers in the film and television industry. All counted votes were favor of unionizing, with twelve casting their ballots in support, zero opposed. These workers, who hold critical positions across six Apple Studios LLC shows, have expressed a strong desire for improved wages, benefits, and working conditions. While positions like Production Designers/Art Directors, Camera Operators, Sound, Editors, Hair and Makeup Artists, Costumes / Wardrobe, Script Supervisors, Grips, Lighting, Props, and Paint, among others, have historically been represented by IATSE in motion picture and television, workers in VFX classifications historically have not. The organizing Apple VFX unit includes VFX Associate Production Managers, Senior VFX Coordinators, VFX Coordinators, VFX Assistant Coordinators, VFX Production Assistants, VFX Witness Camera Operators, VFX Production Artists (In-House Compositors, Virtual Art Directors), VFX On-Set Supervisors, VFX On-Set Production Supervisors/Managers, Lead VFX, Data Wranglers, VFX Data Wranglers, and VFX Jr. Data Wranglers. Unfortunately, Apple challenged the inclusion of VFX Production Supervisors/Managers, who were included in the proposed bargaining unit IATSE initially filed the election for in June. The NLRB allowed these workers to vote “under challenge”, but these ballots were not counted nor included in the twelve yes votes. IATSE continues to maintain these workers should be included in the now-certified unit, and all employees in the VFX industry deserve the opportunity to make their voices heard and democratically decide whether to unionize. The momentum of the VFX union campaign is part of a broader movement that has seen significant victories over the past year, including unionization efforts by ‘Avatar’ VFX artists, Marvel / Disney VFX staffers, and DNEG workers in British Columbia and Montreal. This trend highlights increasing demand for union representation within the VFX industry. IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb stated, "The decision of AppleTV's VFX workers to unionize is a testament to their courage and determination. This vote is a clear message that VFX workers are ready to stand together for their rights and protections. The VFX union movement has been decades in the making, and now is the time. We will continue to relentlessly support VFX workers in negotiating a fair first contract that addresses their collective needs and concerns, and we urge the entire entertainment labor community to stand with them as well." With the unanimous VFX vote to unionize, the next step for Apple’s VFX unit includes negotiating a first contract with Apple in good faith.

Box Office workers at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) have unanimously voted in favor of joining IATSE Local 154!! This marks the fifth group of workers at OSF to join the union, following the chartering of Local 154 by the festival’s stagehands in 2016. Scenic, props, costume shop artisans, and Facilities/Maintenance workers additionally voted to unionize in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Along with the box office crew, an estimated 1/3 of the roughly 400 OSF staff are now under IATSE representation. The Ashland Oregon based OSF has an 89-year history of hosting an array of performances. With over 400,000 attendees annually, the festival hosts performances from classics to new works, musicals, and world premieres. “While this unit of 12 workers may seem small, they are a mighty crew,” said IATSE International Representative Amanda Sager. “I think we often forget the important role these workers play. They not only interface with customers at the ticket offices, but field phone calls, enhance the experience for patrons, and everything in between. I’ve learned so much from this group.” “We are horned to welcome these workers into our Alliance,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. “We represent thousands of box office and ticketing staff across North America. These workers are increasingly aware that to gain respect and a seat a table, they must organize.” Live event and theater workers nationwide are coming together to win essential access to healthcare, training, robust safety measures, mental health resources, and avenues for professional growth. If you are interested in joining the movement, head to iatse.net/join to contact a live events organizer.

For Poll Worker Recruitment Day, we’re partnering with Power The Polls to ensure our Country's elections run smoothly. Join hundreds of IATSE Members who have signed up to help protect democracy and get paid to do it. Sign up at iatse.co/powerthepolls

JOINT STATEMENT: AFM, DGA, IATSE, Teamsters & the Hollywood Basic Crafts, WGAE, and WGAW Issue Joint Statement of Solidarity with the SAG-AFTRA Video Game Strike “For more than 18 months, the SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee has worked in good faith to reach a deal on a new contract with 10 video game producing companies. Despite the committee’s efforts, these employers – who generate billions of dollars in annual profit from 3.2 billion active gamers worldwide – failed to recognize the rights of workers to be protected against the unconstrained rise of artificial intelligence. These workers have made the difficult choice to strike as they fight for basic AI protections, and we stand with them in solidarity. Our unions understand the need to fight back against the threat of AI. We call on these video game companies to acknowledge the contributions of these performers, and to work toward a future where their work is valued, and their labor cannot be replaced by technology.”

IATSE MEMBERS & LABOR ALLIES ASSEMBLE! Let's show Kamala Harris what solidarity looks like and organize to win! Join us tomorrow night and help elect the next pro-worker administration: https://lnkd.in/gX6SJyDd

BREAKING: IATSE Stands in Solidarity with Striking SAG-AFTRA Video Game Workers The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) extends full solidarity and support to the SAG-AFTRA video game workers as they are set to launch on a strike against major video game companies tomorrow at 12:01a.m. SAG-AFTRA’s decision to call a strike highlights an urgent need for fair and equitable treatment of video game workers regarding the implementation of AI in their workplaces. The decision to strike is never made lightly, but is a last resort response when negotiations are failing to move towards union-members’ priorities. IATSE believes all workers in video games deserve the rights and protections of a union, including strong AI contracts which prevent workers from being displaced or have their jobs otherwise outsourced via the implementation of Artificial Intelligence, a key win in IATSE’s recent Basic and Area Standards Negotiations, as well as SAG-AFTRA’s film and tv contract with the studios last year. IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb stated, “We are proud to continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our SAG-AFTRA sisters, brothers, and kin. Their fight against the misuse of AI in the video game industry is a shared fight all entertainment workers’ unions are taking head-on. Just as we secured robust AI protections in our contracts, we support SAG-AFTRA’s demand for fair treatment and comprehensive AI safeguards. Standing together is the only way we can ensure technological development does not come at the expense of workers’ rights and livelihoods.” As SAG-AFTRA video game workers take this courageous step, we call on all members of the entertainment industry to rally to their cause. The issues they face are not isolated; they are part of a broader struggle for protections. To that end, we also encourage members of the entertainment labor community to build on the momentum of video game performers and encourage other video game workers to join the labor movement at gameworkers.org.

BIG thank you to US Senator Mark Warner & Senator Thom Tillis for introducing the bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA)! They know entertainment workers deserve tax fairness and should be able to deduct costs for equipment, tools, and travel.   Read more: https://lnkd.in/efMMBUkJ

JOINT STATEMENT: Hollywood Labor Stands with Teamsters and Hollywood Basic Crafts and Calls on AMPTP to Bargain in Good Faith

BREAKING: IATSE General Executive Board Endorses Kamala Harris for President of the United States, Expresses Gratitude to President Joe Biden The IATSE General Executive Board voted unanimously to extend its endorsement to Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States on Monday, following President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek reelection and his subsequent full support and endorsement of VP Harris’ candidacy. The Biden-Harris White House has been the most pro-union administration in history and Vice President Kamala Harris has played a pivotal role in delivering landmark policies and legislation to benefit IATSE workers. In her capacity as Vice President, Harris cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate to pass the American Rescue Plan Act, providing IATSE members the pandemic relief they needed to pay the bills stay safe until a return to work was possible. As chair of the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, Vice President Harris engaged IATSE to provide input on executive actions that will increase worker organizing and empowerment in our industries. She then joined President Biden in inviting a young IATSE organizer to the White House to lift up our organizing successes in animation. “President Biden’s legacy as the most effective champion for America’s workers to ever occupy the White House is indisputable,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. “His unrelenting support of IATSE workers and the labor movement cannot be overstated. I’m proud to convey the immense gratitude of the IATSE membership for his lifetime of public service and unparalleled leadership. We honor his decision not to run for reelection and are committed to doing whatever it takes to elect Vice President Kamala Harris this November. We are united in our mission to deny Donald Trump, who crossed an IATSE picket line in 2004, another four years of assaulting workers’ rights, undermining unions, and jeopardizing our democracy.” The Biden-Harris administration has actively sought to include the voices of IATSE behind-the-scenes entertainment workers in decisions that impact our industries and workplaces. IATSE has had a seat at the table and unprecedented opportunities to weigh-in on policy decisions that impact our members. We have every confidence that will continue under Vice President Kamala Harris’ leadership. Powered by the strength of the IATSE membership, we will put the full weight of our Alliance behind Kamala Harris for President and build on the progress we’ve made the last 4 years.