Members Divided as IATSE Contract Comes Up for Vote: ‘A Lot of People Are Disappointed’

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Leaders of IATSE locals across the country who recommended unanimously that their members ratify the union’s new film and TV contracts had a distinct advantage over opponents of the deal. While voting was underway, they had access to records showing who had voted, and who hadn’t – though not how they voted.

EXCLUSIVE: Crystal Hopkins has resigned as president of IATSE Local 871, in part because of her dissatisfaction with IATSE’s new film and TV contract. Marisa Shipley, the local’s current vice president, will be the local’s next president, running unopposed to succeed Hopkins in the local’s ongoing election.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe IATSE Basic Agreement was ratified on Monday by just a few hundred votes in two guilds, and with a majority of members of the 13 West Coast locals actually voting no.But the Area Standards Agreement — which covers about 20,000 film and TV workers in another 23 locals around the country — was somehow even closer.It appears that the contract was ratified with a winning margin of just four votes in New Mexico.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe IATSE Basic Agreement ratification passed on Monday by the narrowest of margins, with a few hundred votes in two guilds deciding the outcome.A bare majority of the 40,000-odd members of the 13 West Coast locals voted to reject the agreement — with 50.4% voting no and 49.6% voting yes.

Among the 13 West Coast locals that vote on the Hollywood Basic Agreement, which covers film and TV shoots in Los Angeles, eight locals voted for ratification with 256 of the 444 delegates voting to approve. But when the popular vote is broken down, only 49.6% of members voted to approve the contract.

IATSE members have ratified their new film and TV contracts, averting a showdown with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers after contentious negotiations that began six months ago.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe membership of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees has voted to ratify a new three-year agreement, ending the threat of the first national strike in the union’s history.The vote was unusually close, with 256 delegates voting yes on the Basic Agreement, and 188 voting no. On the Area Standards Agreement — which covers 23 locals around the country — the vote was even closer, 103-94.

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With IATSE members set to vote this weekend for or against ratification of a new Basic Agreement, the outcome could well be determined by the union’s three largest Hollywood locals: Cinematographers Guild Local 600, Editors Guild Local 700 and Prop Local 44. Together, they have enough electoral votes to decide the outcome one way or the other, no matter how the other 10 Hollywood locals vote.

In what could be their final message to members before voting begins this weekend on the ratification of a new IATSE film and TV contract, leaders of the International Cinematographers Guild, Local 600, say they’re voting “Yes” on the pact.

The letter echoed many of the points sent by national and local IATSE leaders over the past month, praising members for nearly unanimously approving a strike authorization that they say broke the impasse with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents studios in labor talks. “We got the producers’ attention and they immediately returned to the bargaining table with meaningful improvements on all of our priorities for the first time,” Loeb wrote.

Cynthia Littleton Business EditorIATSE International chief Matthew Loeb is urging members to vote to approve the master film and TV contract that was reached last month after down-to-the-wire negotiations and a strike authorization vote.In a lengthy message to members sent Thursday, the day before voting begins, Loeb asserted that the hard-fought deal includes “meaningful improvements on all of our priorities.” He noted the difficult road to reaching an agreement on economic issues as well as

IATSE president Matthew Loeb, in what could be his final message to his members before they vote this weekend on a tentative agreement for a new film and contract, is urging them to vote “Yes” on ratification.

Growing rank-and-file opposition to IATSE’s tentative agreement for a new film and TV contract could spell trouble for its ratification as voting by the membership begins and ends this weekend.

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As IATSE members prepare to vote this weekend on a proposed new film and TV contract, membership discontent is evident not only on social media but also is a playing out in the Editors Guild’s upcoming board elections. In their campaign statements, none of the guild’s 23 board candidates openly opposes the tentative agreement, but none flat out endorse it either.

Members of the union’s 13 West Coast locals will vote on whether to approve the Hollywood Basic Agreement, while 23 locals nationwide will vote on the Area Standards Agreement. The vote will take place roughly a month after IATSE negotiators reached a tentative agreement on a new bargaining agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents studios in labor talks.