IATSE Strike Vote Reflects Pandemic-Era Shift in Work-Life Balance

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterMany members of IATSE say they will vote against ratifying a new contract with the major studios because it does not do enough to address working conditions on set.The deal, announced Saturday afternoon, averts a strike that would have shut down film and TV production nationwide starting on Monday morning.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterNegotiators from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees have reached a deal for a new three-year contract, averting a strike that would have shut down film and TV production across the country.The deal must still be ratified by the membership, but it appears that the union will not be calling the first nationwide strike in its 128-year history.Talks went past 10 p.m.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterFilm and TV workers left the job site on Friday uncertain of when they would return, as negotiators were expected to work through the weekend in hopes of avoiding a crippling strike.The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees advised members to bring home any tools and equipment that belong to them, because they may not have access to the set on Monday. IATSE International President Matthew D.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterTV writers may soon have to take their own notes as their assistants will be on the picket lines if IATSE calls a strike on Monday morning.Writers assistants and script coordinators provide the essential support functions that keep writers’ rooms operating.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterHollywood is starting to brace for a strike that would essentially shut down the entire industry on Monday morning.Talks have stalled on a new contract for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which has lately accused the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers of refusing to made enough concessions. Matthew D.

The Art Directors Guild, IATSE Local 800, will hold two membership town hall meetings on Thursday to discuss strike preparations and what will be expected of members if a strike begins on Monday. The meetings will be held at 7 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. PT.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterIATSE leadership got a big win on Oct. 4, when more than 98% of the rank and file voted to authorize a strike.Having riled people up, the leaders now face pressure to deliver the goods.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterAn official with IATSE told members on Tuesday that the studios are refusing to make the necessary concessions to avoid a strike, although negotiations are still underway.Cathy Repola, the national executive director of the Motion Picture Editors Guild, told members in an email on Tuesday that the pace of the talks is quickening, and that the timetable continues to be “days, not weeks.”“In the wake of the overwhelming strike authorization vote, the employers

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterNegotiations on a new IATSE contract will resume on Monday, after the two sides concluded their talks on Saturday without a deal.The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees — which represents 60,000 film and TV production workers across the country — has threatened to strike if it cannot reach a deal. In a message to members on Friday, International President Matthew D.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe high-stakes negotiations between the studios and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees will continue on Saturday, as the two sides continue to talk on a range of issues.The union is seeking movement on its key priorities — including long hours and streaming pay scales — but has advised that it will not let the talks drag on indefinitely.“It’s a matter of days, not weeks,” International President Matthew Loeb said in a statement on Friday

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe studios have made some concessions on IATSE’s demands regarding long production hours, but an agreement still remains “a ways off,” according to an update from one IATSE local on Thursday.David O’Ferrall, the business agent of IATSE Local 487, told members that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers had agreed to 10-hour turnaround times on all productions.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterContract talks between the studios and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees were still underway late Wednesday and are expected to continue on Thursday.As is typically the case during collective bargaining, the negotiators were abiding by a media blackout.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterIn 2015, IATSE International President Matthew Loeb went into the negotiating room determined to do something about long hours worked on productions.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterLet the waiting begin.Negotiations between the studios and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees are expected to continue on Wednesday as the sides try to avoid a strike that would shut down production and immediately cripple Hollywood’s content pipeline.In what could be taken as a sign of progress, the two sides are not saying much publicly about the negotiations.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterNegotiators from the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees and the studios returned to the bargaining table on Tuesday in hopes of averting a TV and film production strike, but no deal was immediately in sight.The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios, presented its latest proposal.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe members of the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees has voted to approve a strike authorization, giving the union president the power to shut down film and TV production across the country.The vote passed with 98 percent support, and 90 percent turnout.The vote comes after talks stalled between the union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterSome 60,000 members of the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees received ballots on Friday morning asking them to authorize the first nationwide strike in the union’s history.Members will have three days to vote, with ballots due at 9 p.m. PT on Sunday night.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterA year after the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the entertainment industry worldwide, the studios are churning out content at a breakneck pace.