Members of a major Hollywood labor union voted to authorize an industry-wide strike over the weekend, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Membership of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees includes production staff such as grips, cinematographers, editors, wardrobe specialists, hair stylists, writer’s assistants and more.
The vote was conducted between Oct. 1 and 3, responding to what members' have described as inhumane working conditions across the industry. Union members have complained of 12-hour-plus workdays, short breaks and unsustainably low pay.
IATSE has been bargaining with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents studios and production companies. AMPTP declined to respond to the union’s latest proposal over a new three-year basic agreement, prompting the strike authorization vote.
“This failure to continue negotiating can only be interpreted one way,” said IATSE President Matthew D. Loeb in a letter to membership last month. “They simply will not address the core issues we have repeatedly advocated for from the beginning.
AMPTP leadership have accused IATSE counterparts of walking away from a “deal-closing, comprehensive proposal” that would address those core issues, according to The Reporter.
IATSE, which represents more than 1500,000 TV and film crewmember and production support professionals, reported that 98.7 percent of members who voted were in favor of the strike.
“Members have spoken loud and clear,” said IATSE President Matthew D. Loeb in a statement on the vote.
