IATSE Basic Agreement Ratified

Word went out within the last hour that twelve of thirteen unions in the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees' west coast bargaining unit ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement.

The 43,000 members in the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts’ 13 West Coast Studio Local Unions ratified a new Producer-IATSE Basic Agreement with the AMPTP. Twelve of the thirteen Local Unions voted to ratify the contract.

The three-year contract—with wages, health and retirement benefits retroactive to July 31, 2018—includes broad gains in several key areas for workers, with no givebacks. ...

From reports, this was a hard-fought ratification. From the day agreement was reached, the Editors Guild Local 700 IATSE was against what came out of lengthy negotiations. The main issues for editors seemed to be the structure of new benefit payments by small companies, less turn-around time for editors thant other locals in the bargaing unit, and general unhappiness over funding for the Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plan.

In twenty-seven years of watching IA-AMPTP Basic Agreement deals, I have NEVER seen a more rancorous campaign to oppose the final agreement than this one. For its part, the International campaigned aggressively for a "YES" vote and achieved it. Overall, the deal was a good one. Will some of the dire predictions about the health and pension plan come true? Time will let plan participants know.

Add On: Here's Deadline's take on the ratification. (71% of the Editors Guild membership voted. The Guild spent time and effort turning out the vote.)