Hollywood Crew Approve New Studio Contracts, Ending Strike Worries

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Members of the union representing 50,000 film and TV crew workers have ratified a new labor contract with the major studios, putting to rest the possibility of another strike that could have disrupted the entertainment industry.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees union said 85.9 percent of its members voted in favor of the agreement that mostly covers crew in Los Angeles and 87.2 percent approved the contract that covers productions elsewhere in the country. The vote comes after the union's current contract was set to expire at the end of the month.

"IATSE's rank-and-file members have spoken, and their will is clear," the union's international president, Matthew D. Loeb, said in a statement. "Between significant wage increases, several craft-specific adjustments, bolstered health/pension benefits with new funding mechanisms, improved safety provisions, critical protections preventing misuse of artificial intelligence from displacing IATSE members, and more — the gains secured in these contracts mark a significant step forward for America's film and TV industry and its workers.

"This result shows our members agree, and now we must build on what these negotiations achieved," he said.

The pending end of the contract raised some fears in Hollywood about another possible strike, coming on the heels of last year's walkouts by the Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America that brought production to a halt.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents Hollywood studios, issued a statement congratulating the union on the ratification vote.

"From the first day of negotiations, IATSE leadership demonstrated a clear commitment to a fair and collaborative process, which resulted in agreements that contain historic gains and protections, reflect the immense value that IATSE members bring to production, and ensure our industry will continue to deliver well-paid jobs and exciting content for years to come," according to the AMPTP.

The Teamsters union, which represents nearly 4,000 workers — including drivers, mechanics and other tradespeople — is still in negotiations with the studios.

City News Service contributed to this report.