Members of Hollywood’s IATSE union, representing “below the line” production workers, voted to ratify the proposed three-year labor contract with major studios. The vote took place over four days from July 14-17 and involved an electoral college-like system in which each of IATSE’s “local” divisions is assigned a certain number of delegates.
The vote from a majority of members from each “local” determines whether all the delegates from that group will either approve or reject the agreement. All of IATSE’s divisions voted to approve the agreement, resulting in a unanimous decision. According to IATSE, 85.9% of all voting members voted to approve the new contract.
This is much stronger support than during IATSE’s last labor contract, approved in a razor-thin vote at the end of 2021. As with Hollywood’s writers and actors last year, some IATSE members expressed deep concern over the threat to their positions coming from the use of AI in film production, with some members recommending a “no” vote on the proposed contract.
However, most of the rank and file chose to accept the substantial increase in wages, additional funds to be set aside for pension plans, and the triple pay for workdays lasting more than 15 hours. In addition, many were hesitant to risk another work stoppage, given the potential long-term damage wrought by last year’s strikes.
Reports had already begun to appear that film and television production in Los Angeles slowed down in June due to strike fears. As one IATSE member explained, ‘I’m signing this thing because we’re all getting crushed, I don’t have a choice financially.’”