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Negotiators from the International Association of Theater and Studio Employees returned to the negotiating table on Tuesday in hopes of avoiding a strike by television and film production, but no deal was in sight in the ‘immediate.
The Alliance of Film and Television Producers, which represents the studios, presented its latest proposal. A union spokesperson said the offer was under consideration.
But a union official said the offer was little different, in substance, from the employer group’s previous proposal, and no progress had been made.
“It’s a big burger nothing,” said the manager.
Other union officials have expressed optimism that a resounding strike authorization vote – with nearly 99% of votes in favor – would lead to enough concessions to reach a deal in the coming days.
More than 52,000 members voted to authorize a nationwide strike, which would be the first in the union’s 128-year history. The turnout was extraordinarily high at 90 percent, showing that the members are fully engaged in the fight for a new three-year contract.
The Basic Agreement and the Regional Standards Agreement, which covers approximately 60,000 workers under the line from coast to coast, expired on September 10. Unions are calling for longer rest periods and longer turnaround times between shifts. The teams also focused on the issue of “Fridays” – late Friday shifts that end on Saturday morning. Union negotiators are seeking a minimum turnaround time of 54 hours on weekends, which has been provided for in other contracts.
Matthew D. Loeb, the international president, has the power to call a strike at any time, which would end most film and television productions across the country. There are a handful of separate contracts that wouldn’t be affected, including those that cover low-budget movies and shows made for HBO, Starz, BET, and Showtime.
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