Demanding More

When IATSE’s contract with the AMPTP expired over the summer, it set the stage for a tumultuous fall with several rounds of heated negotiations. Employers narrowly averted a strike by conceding a last-minute deal with union leadership. For several months, union members have demanded a higher minimum wage, more favorable off-hours in between shifts, and an increase in pay for non-broadcast streaming shows.

If you’re unfamiliar, IATSE is the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and we at Cine Rent West fully support their position. AMPTP stands for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which is comprised of Hollywood heavyweights like Disney, Warner, Paramount, Netflix and many other household names. These two entities have a rich history of conflict. In fact, at a certain point in the 1930’s, organized crime leaders colluded with several major movie studios and seized control of IATSE leadership. This left every union member with a terrible contract and an expensive membership fee, which led to more non-union productions with unsafe working conditions.

Today, their relationship is perhaps more cordial, but there still seems to be a fair amount of exploitation going on. If the new deal is ratified, low-wage IATSE members would gain a 60 percent increase in hourly minimum wages and all members would receive a 9 percent wage increase by the end of the three-year contract. In addition, there will be changes to meal breaks and rest periods, with improved compensation from streaming services, but there aren’t any other specifics at this time. Many union members believe that the new contact hasn’t gone far enough, but union president, Matthew Loeb, advocated to ratify.

Last month, the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins gave the world a sobering view on workplace safety. As union membership continues to decline across every major industry in the USA, let’s not forget where we’d be without the labor movement, which has been union led for the last 150 years. That's right, sick leave, meal breaks, and overtime haven't always been a thing. Make sure to follow @IATSE to stay up to date on more contract news!

You can visit their website here: https://iatse.net