Over 98% of members voted to authorize a strike in union negotiations with film and television producers
The overwhelming approval from IATSE members to authorize a strike came after months of grassroots organizing, creating a network of Hollywood workers so closely knit they raised $ 70,000 to help cover the payment of membership fees for members who were late due to the pandemic shutdown of production.
In the final days leading up to last weekend’s strike authorization vote, members learned they had to be caught up on all overdue dues payments to participate. Olga Lexell, Editorial Assistant and Scenario Coordinator who is a member of IATSE Local 871, realized that this could exclude overdue members, especially for 871 members who are already the lowest paid workers in Hollywood.
“A friend asked if there was anything we could do to help with this,” Lexell said, “and it just started out… doing what we can to get them money.”
Lexell took to social media to ask IATSE members to contact her if they needed help paying their dues. Not only did she receive requests for help from several locals, but she found even more members and even friends outside of the industry keen to help with contributions.
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Using her contacts and hashtags such as #IAStories which were used for online organizing by IATSE members, Lexell created a spreadsheet to connect members in need with people, both inside and outside the IATSE, willing to pay their membership fees. In total, she estimates that 85 members have benefited from mutual assistance in paying dues, with total contributions reaching just over $ 70,000.
“I’m currently in Atlanta working on a show… so it was easy to get the word out with the people I’ve met here in my trade and other people willing to spread it on social media especially the IAStories page that really reached out to people. who are going through a terrible time in the industry, ”she said.
About 60,000 IATSE members – 90% of eligible members – voted in 36 locals across the country last weekend, with an overwhelming 98% majority to allow leaders to order a strike if negotiators fail to an agreement with the Alliance of Film and Television Producers. , which represents the studios. A new round of talks began on Tuesday between the two sides.
In total, more than 150,000 film and television crew employees are represented by IATSE in departments ranging from hairdressing and makeup to cinematography and film editing. These members are already bracing for the possibility of a strike that would end much of film and television production in the United States, with the major exception of shows for pay-TV channels, which operate under a deal. separate negotiation.
IATSE locals have started organizing support programs for union members who may be affected by a strike, with additional support from members of the Writers Guild of America, many of whom have made their debuts. as writing assistants and are or have been members of the IATSE local chapter. 871.
Additionally, the Los Angeles Tenants Union sent tweets in support of the IATSE strike authorization and contacted Lexell to ask if they could help by educating members about protections against eviction in the event of a strike.
For now, there is still a chance that a strike can be avoided. IATSE hopes the authorization will give them enough leverage to secure more favorable pay terms for streaming projects, higher salaries across the board, and firm rules on rest periods and the maximum number of hours they can spend. ‘a day of filming can last. If a strike is ordered, it would be the first major strike in Hollywood since the three-month WGA strike shut down production in 2007-08.
It would also be the first strike since the rise of social media as we know it. Twitter was in its infancy during the WGA walkout, but social media has played a vital role in organizing IATSE members in recent weeks by bringing together locals from very different jobs on movie sets and television in a demand to end the status quo.
“During the pandemic, when we were all out of work, we were just seeing all of these headlines about how streamers were making more money than ever before from the shows we helped make,” Lexell said.
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