Hollywood Faces Another Union Strike: Worker Demands and Uncertainty Looming Over the Industry

09.03.2024 - 23:19

A coalition of Hollywood's grassroots unions convened this past Sunday ahead of the latest round of contract negotiations. Threatening a historic strike against the Motion Picture and Television Producers Guild if their demands go unmet, the lower-tier unions signal potential industry disruption. This looming standoff comes on the heels of the 2023 strikes by industry writers and actors. Explore the details below for insights into the workers' demands and the uncertainties facing the entertainment industry. 👇

Hollywood union leaders have issued a warning of the possibility of another strike this summer if studios fail to reach an agreement on crew contracts before the July 31 expiration.

Speaking to over 2,000 union members at Woodley Park in Encino on Sunday, International Brotherhood of Teamsters President Sean O’Brien emphasized the need for unions to hold their ground and avoid extending the agreement.

The union president expressed no fear of striking if their rights are not acknowledged, stating:

'We are not afraid to strike. These greedy companies – Amazon, Netflix, Sony... Disney, if they choose not to reward our members, they are putting themselves on strike. We will leave them flat on their back, kneeling, and begging for mercy,' said O’Brien.

Negotiations began as of today, with hopes of achieving positive results for the well-being of the film industry.

Talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are scheduled to commence on Monday. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Teamsters, and Hollywood Basic Crafts will collectively negotiate health and retirement benefits. In the following months, IATSE and Teamsters will negotiate separate agreements with Basic Crafts, with the hope of securing approvals before the expiration of the agreements.

During the rally, IATSE's International President Matthew Loeb struck a slightly more moderate tone than O’Brien, repeatedly emphasizing, "There is enough to share."

Loeb stated, 'These benefits should alleviate the pressure on our jobs, so we can enjoy our families and live these lives without being subjected to 80-hour workweeks. If this productivity emerges, it should come to us and our jobs. And we will use it to do our jobs better. However, we want some of the spoils of artificial intelligence.'

The upcoming negotiations were on the minds of many members ahead of a weekend where Hollywood craftsmen celebrated events such as the American Cinema Editors’ Eddie Awards, the American Society of Cinematographers’ ASC Awards, and the Motion Picture Sound Editors’ Golden Reel Awards.

Concerns about IATSE contract negotiations were clearly visible during the Acie Eddies event.

Hollywood, still reeling from the impact of last summer and fall's SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes that significantly halted production, has not fully recovered, and many lower-tier members struggled to find work last year.

This year's negotiations are expected to focus on wage increases and 'quality of life' issues related to hours worked on set, including meal penalties and turnaround times.

"No one should be at risk on a film set," said Vincent.

'Human life is the most precious thing we have, and we cannot make financial or schedule decisions that put that at risk.' This year's negotiations are also expected to focus on wage increases and 'quality of life' issues related to hours worked on set, including meal penalties and turnaround times.