Negotiations are expected to run through the weekend in the hopes of avoiding a strike by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) which will potentially commence at 12:01 am on Monday.
IATSE is a labor organization that represents 60,000 members and covers a majority of the craft-driven and below-the-line workers in Hollywood from camera operators to production designers, editors, grips, craft service workers, script coordinators, etc.
The group has been in a prolonged negotiation period for a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) since the summer. A recent vote on the authority to strike saw 89% of ballots returned and 98% authorizing one.
Thus should a new contract not be resolved by Monday, many productions will simply have to shut down. Potential exceptions to the strike are the three premium cablers HBO, Starz, and Showtime who are governed by separate contracts – but workers there may stand with their fellow striking IATSE members in solidarity.
This marks the first time IATSE has come close to striking since World War II. The impetus here is over working conditions which sees many crew doing 14-hour days without breaks, skipping meals, and being forced to do weekend work. Part of the complication is streaming which has become the dominant player on the production side but is not paying in the same way as traditional film and television releases.
IATSE is reportedly seeking regulations protecting meal breaks and rest periods, greater turnaround times, raising streamer rates, better funding of health and pension plans, and better pay for those on the lowest wages like assistants. The DGA, WGA, and SAG all won better agreements on these issues in 2020, IATSE aims to simply match this but AMPTP is said to be nervous about the potential financial ramifications.
Film and TV workers left their job site on Friday and were reportedly advised to bring home any tools and equipment that belong to them and picketing is expected to begin at 6 am on Monday should a new agreement not be reached.
