Posts tagged IATSE
Artists At Netflix Animation, SpindleHorse & ‘Ted’ Move To Unionize With The Animation Guild/IATSE
September 25, 2025 // Variety reports Production Workers employed at Netflix Animation, Animation Artists at SpindleHorse and Production Workers at Ted have made the move to Unionize with Animation Guild/International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 839. These campaigns underscore the significant momentum for Labor Organizing across the Animation Industry, from streaming features to prime-time productions to independent studios. A group of 60 Production Workers at Netflix Animation Studios (Feature Productions) has submitted a request for Union Recognition to the studio.
Casa Bonita Workers Will Still Face Nasty Gases, Drunk Patrons, But Now As a Part of a Union
July 21, 2025 // The more recent efforts for this small arcade team to unionize started up again in May, when all eight team members signed authorization cards, citing lack of job security, unfair pay and inconsistent shifts. We’ll have to wait and see what the future of Casa Bonita’s larger union holds, but it appears employees may still have to deal with concerning odors, hordes of camera-wielding influencers and rowdy South Park fans.
Arcade Workers at ‘South Park’ Creators’ Casa Bonita Restaurant Unionize
July 11, 2025 // The South Park creators have also been in the news for threatening legal action and accusing Paramount president Jeff Shell of meddling in contract negotiations with Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix.
Disney, Marvel & ‘Avatar’ Franchise VFX Workers Ratify First IATSE Contracts
May 22, 2025 // The VFX crews at Marvel and Disney filed for a unionization election with the National Labor Relations Board in August 2023. A supermajority of Marvel's more than 50-worker crew signed authorization cards saying they want to be represented by the IATSE, while a supermajority of the 18 in-house VFX crewmembers at Walt Disney Pictures signed cards.
Motion Capture Workers at ‘NBA 2K’ Studio Vote to Unionize With IATSE
November 30, 2024 // IATSE is positioning this organizing victory as the first successful unionization push at a motion capture studio in the video game industry. “This victory is not just about one studio; it’s about the future of work in the video game industry,” said the union’s international president Matthew Loeb in a statement. Loeb added that he believed the victory at 2K would “inspire others in the industry to follow suit.”
‘SNL’ VFX Workers Unionize With IATSE
October 31, 2024 // The “SNL” VFX team isn’t the only one on the hallowed NBC show that IATSE has recently unionized. In October 2022, IATSE successfully organized the show’s editors, who reached a deal on their first labor contract after threatening to go on the first show-specific strike in “SNL” history in March 2023. Like the editors’ process, NBCUniversal management agreed to recognize the VFX workers’ union after the group presented their signed authorization cards, which reflected the unanimous decision to unionize.
How AI Is Impacting Labor Relations—and Why Employers Need to Pay Attention
October 25, 2024 // One key takeaway from the DOL guidelines is the importance of worker involvement. In unionized workplaces, rolling out AI without worker input is risky. Unions are already pushing back, trying to ensure that AI doesn’t replace jobs or erode working conditions. Employers should expect collective bargaining proposals that set clear parameters around AI usage, from performance monitoring to task automation. Industries like entertainment are leading the charge, with unions such as SAG-AFTRA and the WGA negotiating limits on AI-generated scripts and digital replicas. At ports, the International Longshoremen’s Association is resisting fully automated systems. These are clear signs that AI’s impact on labor is at the top of many unions’ minds.
A first: Chippendales at the Rio to unionize
October 10, 2024 // The Chipps move to Equity status could trigger a series of similar efforts in shows across Las Vegas. Such production companies as Cirque du Soleil, Spiegelworld and Adam Steck’s SPI Entertainment lineup (which has “Thunder” on its roster) are non-union. But none of these casts have formally moved to organize. Nationally, Equity also represents strip-club employees, and also Disneyland character performers. Las Vegas is rife with club performers, and atmospheric entertainers (Area15 is expanding by 35 acres, for instance), eligible to seek Equity status. Equity reps clearly want the Chipps show to serve as a toe-hold to increased membership across Las Vegas. So do the dancers who voted to organize.
IATSE to Resume Contract Talks With Studios on June 24
June 11, 2024 // IATSE, along with Teamsters and the Basic Crafts, are also seeking new funding models for the Motion Picture Industry Health and Pension Plan, which serves all of their members. As the plan is funded by studio and union contributions that are based on the number of active film/TV productions per year, the MPI is facing an estimated $670 million shortfall over the next three years due to contributions lost during last year’s strikes. Along with wages, Teamsters 399 is expected to push for minimum staffing requirements for drivers on Hollywood productions, as well as protections against automated vehicles being used.
California’s AB5 Law Threatens Film and TV Workers Who Use Loan Outs
May 28, 2024 // Loan-out corporations already pay W-2 wages to their owners. The California Employment Development Department's decision to not recognize loan-outs for payroll purposes means studios would have to pay these corporations directly. Due to the logistical challenges this presents, studios are likely to reject using loan-outs altogether. This could severely disrupt the entertainment industry and needs immediate resolution. And the other giant thing is, other states will not have this law. So why would Hollywood workers stay and have businesses in Southern California if they'd be paying more taxes to live in a more expensive place? Especially if work then moves out of state as well.