The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees announced on Oct. 16 that it reached a tentative three-year contract agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, shortly before a strike was set to go into effect. Negotiations on a new contract had stalled, and on Oct. 4, IATSE announced that more that 98% of its voting members electe to authorize a strike — which was all the more remarkable in that voter turnout was 90% of the union’s 60,000 eligible members. The strike was to go into effect on Oct. 18. IATSE’s top issues were unsafe and harmful working hours;unlivable wages for the lowest-paid crafts; failure to provide reasonable rest during meal breaks, between workdays and on weekends; and lower pay on some streaming projects with large budgets.
SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland congratulated IATSE members. “We are pleased and relieved that the two sides were able to reach an agreement and that a strike was averted, but there was always more at stake here than an industry shutdown. All workers deserve safe working conditions and fair wages, and this outcome once again demonstrates the power of unity. We are proud of what our fellow union members have achieved,” he said. The tentative agreement was then set to be sent to the IATSE membership for ratification.
This item originally featured in the SAG-AFTRA magazine fall/winter 2021 issue.