IATSE Members Ratify New Contract

Members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts (IATSE) narrowly voted to ratify two new contracts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

“From start to finish, from preparation to ratification, this has been a democratic process to win the very best contracts,” said Matthew Loeb, president of IATSE International. “The vigorous debate, high turnout and close election indicate we have an unprecedented movement-building opportunity to educate members on our collective bargaining process and drive more participation in our union long-term.”

The combined vote for the Basic Agreement and the Area Standards Agreement was 359 (56 percent) to 282 (44 percent). The three-year contracts deliver across-the-board wage increases and promise to significantly improve wages and working conditions for IATSE members employed on streaming productions. They also contain provisions that guarantee adequate rest at the end of the workday and on the weekend, along with meal breaks during the workday and stiff financial penalties if the break periods are violated.

“Our goal was to achieve fair contracts that work for IATSE members in television and film that address quality-of-life issues and conditions on the job like rest and meal breaks,” said Loeb. “We met our objectives for this round of bargaining and built a strong foundation for future agreements.”