Cathy Stephens / Variety
IATSE members voted to ratify contracts with major studios, easing fears that another industry shutdown may soon follow two strikes last year and bringing hopes of an increase in jobs amid the ongoing economic downturn.
The agreements were approved by significant majorities, despite some concerns that they did not do enough to protect members from artificial intelligence: the Basic Agreement was approved by 85.9% of members, while the Regional Standard Agreement received support from 87.2%.
“IATSE’s rank-and-file membership has spoken, and their will is clear,” IATSE International President Matt Loeb said in a statement. “The gains secured in these contracts represent a major step forward for the American film and television industry and its workers. This outcome shows that our members agree, and now we must build on the gains achieved in these negotiations.”
The union reported “historically high” turnout, with “overwhelming majorities” voting for both contracts. In 2021, 72% of eligible members voted. The ratification was unusually divisive: only 49.6% voted in favor of the 2021 Agreement in Chief, but it passed under the union’s delegate voting system. This time, the delegate vote was unanimous, as all affected local chapters supported the agreement.
The American Federation of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios in the negotiations, congratulated the union for ratifying the “landmark” agreement with overwhelming support.
“From day one of negotiations, IATSE leadership demonstrated a clear commitment to a fair and collaborative process that resulted in an agreement that contains historic benefits and protections, reflects the immense value IATSE members bring to production, and ensures that our industry will continue to provide good-paying jobs and inspiring content for years to come,” an AMPTP spokesperson said.
Both sides seemed keen for an agreement, given that the company is struggling to recover from a strike last year. The two sides set additional time for negotiations, which began in early March, but the union never voted to authorize a strike.
The contract provides for significant wage hikes, including a 7% increase in the minimum wage in the first year, followed by 4% and 3.5% increases thereafter, matching terms won by SAG-AFTRA last fall. The deal also includes new streaming residuals to plug a $670 million shortfall in pensions and health insurance, which are funded primarily by hourly wages and were hit by last year’s six-month strike. Workers will also receive two to three times the pay under the current contract for any hours worked beyond 15 hours, a provision intended to curb long hours.
IATSE also won certain concessions regarding the use of AI. Any use of AI will be covered by the union contract, and members cannot be forced to enter prompts into an AI system that would put other members out of work. It also states that members have the right to severance pay and retraining if they lose their jobs due to AI. The contract also provides for regular meetings to discuss developments in the technology.
This was not enough for union members who feared that AI would be used to train workers in creative jobs, resulting in job losses: the AMPTP had no intention of restricting or compensating for AI training in any labor negotiations.
Members asked IATSE leadership for more information about the terms at a town hall meeting on Saturday.
The Set Designers Association (part of the Art Directors Guild’s 800 chapters) recommended a “no” vote due to the AI language. variety It reads: “The new contract language gives no protection related to the individual processes in designing, building models, illustrating or creating documentation. This applies to all crafts: art direction, set design, illustration, graphic arts and in some cases even physical model making when a computer is used to create parts.”
The Hollywood Master Agreement and Videotape Agreement covers approximately 50,000 film and television workers in IATSE’s 13 West Coast studio chapters, based in Los Angeles. The largest chapters are the International Guild of Cinematographers (chapter 600), the Guild of Cinematographers (chapter 700), and the Art Directors Guild (chapter 800).
The local standards agreement covers about 20,000 film and television workers in 23 local unions in cities across the U.S. outside of Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Chicago. The current contract expires on July 31. The new agreement takes effect on August 1.
The Teamsters and other basic crafts unions, which together represent about 8,000 workers, are still negotiating a collective bargaining agreement. Teamsters leaders have warned that the two sides remain far apart on fundamental issues like higher wages. The union also wants limits on subcontracting. The agreement expires on July 31.
Lindsay Dougherty, president of Teamsters Local 399, said a strike was “unlikely” before negotiations began, but the union has warned it “will not negotiate against us” and its rhetoric has become increasingly combative in recent weeks.
