[ad_1]
The International Association of Theater Stage Employees (IATSE) has agreed to approve a strike authorization by an overwhelming majority.
The IATSE announced that nearly 90% of its 60,000 union members voted in favor of strike authorization in a vote that passed with 98.7% approval. While that doesn’t trigger a strike, the union is now able to appeal if negotiations for a new contract continue to stall.
The union continues to meet with the Alliance of Film and Television Producers representing major movie studios and streaming companies under a new three-year contract.
BREAKING: IATSE members in television and film production voted to authorize the industry’s first national strike in 128 years of history.
98.68% voted yes, and the turnout among eligible members was almost 90% # IASolidarity # IATSEVé pic.twitter.com/F4wx8cPubi
– IATSE // #VoteYES (@IATSE) October 4, 2021
According to the IATSE website, the union is negotiating for better working hours, rest and breaks for meals and weekends, decent wages for locals and better wages for members of the union working on “new media” broadcasting projects which, according to the union, are paid less. despite production budgets that rival traditional blockbusters.
Deadline reports that the residents of IATSE are asking for a “real and meaningful rest period” as 14-hour days are widely regarded as an “industry standard.”
The LA Times reports that AMPTP has so far failed to respond to such demands and has argued that it has raised the minimum wage for these new media productions and covered the pension plan deficit and $ 400 million health care union.
The two sides will continue to negotiate a new contract for West Coast union members and national members, but with strike permission, the union president can request one if a deal does not come to fruition.
A strike would be a rarity given that the IATSE has not held a strike since 1945, a date known as Hollywood’s Bloody Friday according to the LA Times. But it threatens to leave massive disruption to Hollywood projects currently in development.
Matt TM Kim is the editor-in-chief of IGN. You can reach it @lasoftd.
Photo by AaronP / Bauer-Griffin / GC Images
[ad_2]
Source link