The IATSE Strike Has Gone to a Vote—Time for Change

Thanks to the long hours on set and a lack of desired pay, IATSE might have to strike. 

The support staff in Hollywood are among the most important people on sets and behind the scenes. The reason your hopes and dreams make it to the big screen is that assistants, PAs, DPs, editors, and many other positions have banded together to work hard. And sometimes work long. 

IATSE is in the middle of negotiating the new film and TV contract with producers from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), but the producers did not reply to their last proposal.

On Sept. 20, IATSE said it would hold a nationwide strike authorization vote.

The IATSE negotiating committee said in a statement Monday, “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 nationwide strike authorization vote to demonstrate our commitment to achieving the change that is long overdue in this industry.”

The new contract negotiation affects over 43,000 workers in the film and entertainment industry.

Their needs include better rest periods, higher wages, residuals from streaming, and increased contributions to health and pension plans. The union is also negotiating a contract that affects another 17,000 members working in feature film and TV production outside LA and New York, like Georgia and New Orleans. 

Voting begins on Oct. 1, with results tabulated on Oct. 4. The vote will happen electronically.

We will keep you updated on these important events.