IATSE Strike – Pending Vote

IATSE or International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees may or may not be experiencing a strike soon. What is IATSE and why are they striking? IATSE is a Labor  Union. The Labor Union is the for most of the Film Industry. It represents over 140,000 Professionals. There are many different departments within IATSE, Each department has its own responsibilities. Some examples of the departments are Stage Craft Department, Trade Show Department, and Broadcast Department. What does IATSE do? Like all Unions, IATSE protects the rights of those who work in the entertainment and Media Industry. There are different chapters and each chapter acts as a “Hub” for the Industry and provides services and support. There are different districts within IATSE. There are 13 different regions.

To Strike or Not to Strike

IATSE is holding a vote today to decide whether or not they should go on strike.  Tens of thousand os IATSE workers have received an email with a link for their vote regarding their intention for a strike. Talks and negotiations have been going on for months to try and get safer working conditions. These include talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, or AMPTP.  AMPTP said that it does not intend to make a counteroffer on IATSE’s most recent offer.

Excessive and Harmful Working Hours

Some of the problems that IATSE had throughout the bargaining problem is that AMPTP had failed to work on some of the issues that had arisen. Some of the issues include Excessive unsafe and harmful working hours, Unlivable wages for the lowest-paid crew members, and consistent failure to provide reasonable breaks during meals, workdays, and weekends. IATSE finds it unimaginable that the AMPTP claims that it can not provide regular meal breaks, living wages, and allow adequate sleep to its crew members, yet it is an ensemble of corporations that are worth over trillions of dollars. That also Management does not recognize the issues and that they exist.

Time for a Change

The issues affect the workers a great deal and it is time for it to change. The workers deserve better work conditions and better conditions all around. This is why they are going on strike to not only get better conditions but to hold everyone accountable. AMPTP has not been following through on their promises and it is time that they did or at least follow through on what they have promised. The workers deserve better than what they are getting and deserve livable conditions.