IATSE has taken the subsequent step towards representing freelance TV business manufacturing division staff.
The union mentioned Thursday that it has despatched a proper request to the Affiliation of Unbiased Business Producers to provoke a card rely by a impartial third celebration on behalf of hundreds of unionizing freelance TV business manufacturing division staff. If a majority of staff signal the playing cards, IATSE will likely be acknowledged as their collective bargaining agent.
“The cardboard rely is a key step in the direction of formally confirming whether or not the bulk desires a union,” IATSE says on its web site. Earlier this 12 months, manufacturing division staff introduced their partnership with IATSE by the “Stand with Manufacturing” motion.
The union already represents crews engaged on commercials across the nation and now could be searching for to symbolize staff employed in business manufacturing departments, as nicely. The unionizing staff embrace manufacturing assistants, line producers, manufacturing supervisors, assistant manufacturing supervisors and bidding producers. The union already represents business artwork administrators, digital camera operators, hair & make-up artists, script supervisors, grips, lighting technicians, props and painters.
It’s been a bumpy highway getting this near unionizing the manufacturing division staff, with IATSE at one level accusing the AICP of “union busting.”
“We have now been assured a majority within the freelance business manufacturing group are in favor of unionizing for a while,” mentioned IATSE President Matt Loeb, “but daily the employees proceed signing much more playing cards to display they’re critical about working with the AICP to construct a extra standardized, sustainable, and safer trade. It’s no shock these staff need and deserve lots of the similar rights and protections their unionized co-workers have already got.”
In October, IATSE and the AICP reached an settlement on a brand new three-year contract protecting crew members engaged on commercials across the nation. Underneath the phrases of that deal, in addition they reached an settlement that might result in voluntary recognition by the AICP for non-union freelance business manufacturing division staff. That settlement defines what a unit of eligible staff is and offers that if a majority designate IATSE as their unique bargaining consultant by signing digital authorization playing cards, the AICP will acknowledge the union for functions of partaking in contract negotiations.
