The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and Hollywood’s major studios have concluded their first week of talks Thursday evening, with both parties planning to resume negotiations for a new union contract on March 18.
The IATSE Basic Agreement Negotiating Committee, which represents IATSE, Teamsters 399 and the Hollywood Basic Crafts, proposed the new agreement to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on Monday. The AMPTP and IATSE’s committee trading proposed amendments on the Hollywood Basic Agreement on Tuesday.
Next week, beginning March 11, is planned as a caucus week, where both parties will only meet amongst themselves before making a formal return to general negotiations on March 18. Each of the 13 West Coast Studio Locals (including IATSE Local 44, 80, 600, 695, 700, 705, 706, 728, 729, 800, 871, 884, and 892) are expected to meet with the AMPTP to discuss “craft-specific issues.” The union covers roughly 50,000 members.
IATSE, the Teamsters and the Hollywood Basic Crafts are jointly bargaining health and pension benefits. The three then plan to negotiate separate agreements.
“In the coming weeks, we will continue to discuss the specifics of these proposals and provide periodic updates on our exchanges,” IATSE international vice president Mike Miller said in a statement. “In the meantime, our work continues.”
IATSE’s primary focuses in the Hollywood Basic Agreement include wage increases, enhanced contract enforcement and “quality of life” aspects to on-set working conditions. On Thursday, the union’s committee also honed in on proposals to add protections against emerging technologies, including AI.
IATSE’s current contract with the AMPTP expires July 31, meaning the entertainment industry could face another strike if the two groups cannot agree on an agreement in the coming months. Production has yet to return to full strength after the conclusion of last year’s Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which impacted many below-the-line crew members now being covered by this round of negotiations.
