The agreement negotiated between the leaders of IATSE and the Hollywood studios is meeting with resistance from some rank and file union members. Union leaders have hailed the accord as a major win for film industry workers, with limits on work hours, mandated turnaround times between shifts and an annual wage increase of at least 3%. However, a sizable number of members have expressed frustration with the deal and are threatening to vote against it. One objection is the failure of negotiators to secure a commitment from streaming studios to contribute to the pensions and health plans of IATSE members. While traditional studios have contributed for years, studios focused on streaming were granted an exemption from their early days based on their fledgling status as “new media” startups. However, many streamers have become as big or bigger than traditional studios, and some union members feel strongly that they should now have the same obligations. Despite these grumblings, union leaders are actively encouraging their members to ratify the accord by explaining its terms and benefits through a series of online presentations, a dedicated website and a fact sheet.
See Also: Everything We Know About the New IATSE Contract (Variety)