Animation Guild, AMPTP To Resume Bargaining in September; No Deal Reached This Week

The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839) and AMPTP concluded this week of bargaining without a deal, and intends to resume negotiations for a new three-year contact in mid September, Variety has learned.

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TAG, which represents an estimated 5,000 artists, technicians, writers and production workers in the animation industry, began bargaining with the entity representing producers on Aug. 12. The Master Agreement expires on Friday; traditionally it would be extended during this period.

As with Hollywood’s other recent labor negotiations including the WGA and SAG-AFTRA bargaining that led to last year’s historic double strike, central issues for the Animation Guild included Gen AI protections amid worries about potential job displacement. In preparation for these negotiations, TAG partnered with CAA and CVL Economics earlier this year on an impact study, which forecast 29% of animation jobs being potentially disrupted in the next three years.

Others key issues that were expected to be addressed during the negotiations included layoffs and outsourcing. Based on anecdotal research and internal surveys, TAG estimates that one-third of TAG’s animation workforce has been laid off in the past year. On outsourcing, TAG reports that Los Angeles County animation studios continue to send work to studios in Asia and Europe, and some of those studios, in turn, try to hire L.A. workers at lower rates without the benefits and protections provided by the union.

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Last weekend the Animation Guild held a “Stand With Animation” Rally.

The IATSE Basic Agreement was ratified last month. Workers in 13 Locals including the International Cinematographers Guild (Local 600), Motion Picture Editors Guild (Local 700) and Art Directors Guild (Local 800) work under this contact.

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