Photo: Myung J. Chun/getty
What Is IATSE?
IATSE stands for International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees. It’s a labor union that represents 150,000 people in across the entertainment industry, including electricians, camera operators, costumers, makeup artists, special effects, hair stylists, script supervisors and more. These employees are often called “below-the-line” workers, but are essential to production of any film or television show.
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What Is AMPTP?
AMPTP stands for Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, and they are the trade association “responsible for negotiating virtually all industry-wide guild and union contracts,” according to theirofficial website.
What Are IATSE Workers Asking For?
IATSE outlined the working conditions they hope to improvein a statement on their website. These include:
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In their statement, IATSE asserted, “Management does not appear to even recognize our core issues as problems that exist in the first place.” They stated in a letter to legislators, “The AMPTP’s refusal to budge has created a deadlock, leading to the strike vote. They keep characterizing these issues as being about ‘money’ but really, they are primarily about equity, health, safety and planning.”
IATSE workers have also been sharing their stories on social media. One account,ia_stories, has been sharing firsthand accounts from workers who have faced some of the conditions outlined above.
Why Are IATSE Workers Preparing for a Strike?
On September 20, Indiewire reported that IATSE released a statement to their 150,000 workers across 13 Hollywood locals that a vote on a strike was impending.
IATSE president Matt Loeb and the leaders of the 23 local unionssaid in a Sept. 21 letter,“Negotiations for the Area Standards Agreement have ground to a halt. Today the AMPTP informed the IATSE that they have no further changes to their last position. This failure to continue negotiating can only be interpreted one way. They simply will not address the core issues we have repeatedly advocated for from the beginning. As a result, we will now proceed with a strike authorization vote to demonstrate our commitment to achieving the change that is long overdue in this industry.”
Days later, IATSEsent out letters to legislators in New York and California, saying that “a strike would effectively shut down” California and New York’s film and television production, according toDeadline, who shared the letter in full. In the letter, IATSE made clear again their position that the AMPTP “is refusing union proposals to provide safe working conditions, including meal and rest periods for our members … Given their position, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees is compelled to call for strike authorization vote.”
The strike authorization vote is expected to begin on Oct. 1, with results announced on Oct. 4.
How Could This Affect the Film and Television Industries?
They added, “It is unfortunate the IATSE has gone down the path of publishing false information about the negotiations. This approach unnecessarily polarizes the bargaining parties and elevates tensions at a time when we should be focused on finding ways to avoid a strike.”
A strike, they warned, “will have a devastating impact on the industry and inevitably will result in thousands of IATSE members losing their income, failing to qualify for health insurance benefits, jeopardizing funding for the pension plan and disrupting production.”
On Sept. 27, IATSE members also performed the collective action of cancelling their streaming subscriptions, according toVariety.One of the group’s grievances is that, though film and television production has largely shifted to streaming giants like Netflix, that is not reflected in their current wages.
As they stated in their letters to lawmakers, if the strike is authorized on October 4 and IATSE and AMPTP do not come to an agreement amenable to both parties, it is possible that tens of thousands of IATSE workers could walk off the job, bringing the industry to a halt. It should be noted that IATSE has never in its history gone on strike.
Even if the members do not strike, receiving a “yes” vote would give IATSE greater leverage at the bargaining table.
When Will the Strike Happen if a Deal isn’t Reached?
The IATSE President announced on Oct. 13 that the union will strike Monday Oct. 18 at 12:01 a.m. PT if a deal isn’t reached in the next few days.
Loeb said that the union “will continue bargaining with the producers this week in the hopes of reaching an agreement that addresses core issues, such as reasonable rest periods, meal breaks, and a living wage for those on the bottom of the wage scale,” according toDeadline.
He continued, “the pace of bargaining doesn’t reflect any sense of urgency,” and that “without an end date, we could keep talking forever. Our members deserve to have their basic needs addressed now.”
The union has created a “strike clock” counting down the time until they take action.
How Did the AMPTP Respond to the Confirmed Strike Date?
On Wednesday, the AMPTP responded in a statement saying, “There are five whole days left to reach a deal, and the studios will continue to negotiate in good faith in an effort to reach an agreement for a new contract that will keep the industry working.”
Two membership town hall meetings will be held on Thursday to discuss strike preparations and expectations if a strike starts on Monday. The meetings will occur at 7 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. PT.
Who Has Supported the IATSE Workers?
Other major guilds (including the Writers' Guild of America, SAG-AFTRA and the Directors' Guild) have shown solidarity, and many celebrities have also spoken out in support of the IATSE, includingViola Davis, Billy Eichner, Mindy Kaling, Anna Paquin and Kerry Washington (see even more below).
Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda
Seth Rogen
Rachel Zelger
Danny Devito
Ben Stiller
Bradley Whitford
Anthony Rapp
source: people.com
