Hollywood’s major crew union and top studios and streamers are gearing up for a return to negotiations on core issues for West Coast Locals. The 13 IATSE West Coast Locals, representing around 50,000 workers, will resume talks on wages, working conditions, benefits, and AI from June 3 to 5.
The negotiations for the Basic Agreement, which broke off on May 16, are set to resume as the expiration date of July 31 approaches. The union has made it clear that they have no intention of extending the contract beyond that date and could call for a strike authorization vote if a deal is not reached.
While tentative agreements have been reached on some points, including classification and wage issues, the union emphasized that these agreements are not final until all proposals are settled. Talks on AI and MPI benefits are still ongoing, but there is a sense of progress being made.
In addition to the West Coast negotiations, 23 separate IATSE Locals have been negotiating the Area Standards Agreement for crew members working outside major cities. These negotiations will also resume soon, covering issues like working conditions, benefits, and subcontracting.
IATSE international president Matthew Loeb emphasized the importance of these negotiations in ensuring workers’ rights to rest, safety, and economic stability. The talks will continue next week as both labor and management work towards a comprehensive agreement.