NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Film and television workers reached an 11th-hour labor deal with producers to avoid a strike on Monday, their union announced.
The deal secured victories for a number of key asks from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), which represents roughly 60,000 stage and crew workers who toil behind the scenes of American television and movie productions.
“This is a Hollywood ending,” union president Matthew Loeb said. “Our members stood firm.”
The union had undergone days of lengthy negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the studios and other entertainment companies. A deadline for an agreement was set for midnight Sunday.
While details of the new agreement were not made public, IATSE said in a statement said the deal addressed “core issues,” like “reasonable” rest periods, meal breaks and living wages for those at the bottom of the pay scale. It also secures a “significant” increase in compensation from new media companies.
Workers must now vote to approve the new deal before its enacted.
“We went toe to toe with some of the richest and most powerful entertainment and tech companies in the world, and we have now reached an agreement with the AMPTP that meets our members’ needs,” Loeb said.
Several actors and elected officials congratulated the union, which had boldly threatened to disrupt the industry by walking off sets.
"Earlier today, I spoke to union leadership at IATSE to express my support for their advocacy for working people in the entertainment industry, and I am pleased that IATSE and AMPTP reached a tentative agreement that is fair to workers and protects the good-paying middle-class jobs this sector creates,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“The film and television industry is a crucial part of New York, generating tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity,” she added. “Together, we'll continue New York's recovery from the pandemic and make sure working families can continue to thrive in this state."
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