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Let the wait begin.
Negotiations between the studios and the International Alliance of Theater Workers are expected to continue on Wednesday as parties attempt to avoid a strike that would halt production and immediately cripple Hollywood’s content pipeline.
In what could be seen as a sign of progress, the two sides are not saying much publicly about the negotiations. A union official said Variety that the latest proposal from the Alliance of Film and Television Producers was ‘nothing at all’, but otherwise union officials have remained fairly silent. On the flip side, producers appeared to show few signs of giving in on major issues after unions had a resounding 99% vote to allow a strike on Monday.
Talks could last for several days, with the two sides meeting via Zoom and then splitting into separate groups to discuss their responses. Unions – which make up the bulk of the workforce below the Hollywood line – are looking for increased rest periods and “rotation” times between shifts. They’re also looking for higher pay ranges for script coordinators, writing assistants, and other low-paid workers, as well as increased residue from streaming services.
“We are not asking for the world. We want fair wages and a safe and healthy working environment, ”said Salvador Perez, President of the Costume Designers Guild. “The studios need us … We should be treated as a valuable asset – a partner, not a cog in the system.”
Industry sources close to management continue to express optimism that a deal will be reached as both sides have so much to lose in a work stoppage. Crew members, crafts experts and others have resumed regular work schedules as the COVID threat has been tamed by strict protocols, not without disruption. The network studio conglomerates that dominate the industry are too much at stake to maintain a constant pipeline of content flowing to new platforms that are already consuming billions of dollars in investment capital.
“There’s no way (the studios) will let this down for hours on end on the weekends. That would be insane, ”said a seasoned industry executive who is closely monitoring the talks.
One big hurdle that IATSE chief negotiator Matthew Loeb faces, sources say, is to streamline the disparate demands of locals who represent various disciplines into one comprehensive list of priorities to focus on. “He needs to get his people online – that’s what needs to happen this week.”
Jazz Tangcay and Cynthia Littleton contributed to this report.
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