The workers join the latest wave of industry artists calling for protections afforded their union colleagues; group follows Marvel VFX workers as only the 2nd ever VFX worker NLRB filing.
Today, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) announced that Walt Disney Pictures visual effects (VFX) crews at Walt Disney Pictures filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for a union election. This is the second group of VFX professionals ever to initiate the process, coming on the heels of last month’s similar filing by Marvel VFX workers.
Walt Disney Pictures has been a leader in the entertainment industry for a century. Originally established as Walt Disney Productions, it was renamed in 1983. The unionizing VFX workers create VFX across the studio’s catalog, including modern classics such as the live-action adaptations of Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
The move follows a supermajority (over 80%) of the 18 in-house VFX crewmembers at Walt Disney Pictures who signed authorization cards signaling their desire to unionize. With the filing, a labor board election could commence within two to three weeks. If the majority of these workers vote in favor of unionizing in that election, the studio would be required to begin good-faith negotiations for a contract covering these workers as a group.
“Today, courageous visual effects workers at Walt Disney Pictures overcame the fear and silence that have kept our community from having a voice on the job for decades,” commented IATSE VFX Organizer Mark Patch. “With an overwhelming supermajority of these crews demanding an end to 'the way VFX has always been,' this is a clear sign that our campaign is not about one studio or corporation. It's about VFX workers across the industry using the tools at our disposal to uplift ourselves and forge a better path forward."
While positions like production designers/art directors; camera operators; sound editors; hair and makeup artists; costumes / wardrobe; script supervisors; grips; lighting; props; and paint, have been historically represented by IATSE in motion picture and television, workers in VFX classifications have not. VFX job classifications have largely remained non-union since the pioneering of the field during production of the first Star Wars films in the 1970s.
According to IATSE, the unionizing workers demand fair compensation for all hours worked, adequate health care, and retirement benefits. These are the same rights and protections afforded to their unionized coworkers whom IATSE already represents.
Calls for improvements across the VFX Industry have become increasingly prevalent, with the IATSE citing its 2022 VFX Worker Rate and Conditions Survey published in March as corroborating the sentiment.
IATSE has reported unprecedented demand for unionization across all entertainment industry sectors, noting that the move by Walt Disney Pictures' VFX workers is part of a wave of organizing throughout the business. Earlier this month, workers at Gladius Studios across animation, visual effects, and video game classifications voted unanimously to unionize with The Animation Guild (TAG), IATSE Local 839. Also, this month, Marvel Studios VFX Workers filed a union election – voting results will be counted September 12.
“The determination of these VFX workers is not just commendable, it’s groundbreaking,” added IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. “Their collective action against the status quo represents a seismic shift in this critical moment in our industry. The chorus of voices demanding change is unprecedented and demonstrates our united movement is not about any one company, but about setting a precedent of dignity, respect, and fairness for all.”
Source: IATSE
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
