Hollywood production workers pushing for better pay and working conditions voted nearly unanimously to authorize a strike

Hollywood production workers pushing for better pay and working conditions voted nearly unanimously to authorize a strike, a scenario that could hobble the entertainment industry as companies race to keep up with a surge in on-demand films and TV shows. note: 007 노 타임 투 다이 다시보기

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) said Monday that its members voted 98 percent to 2 percent to allow union president Matthew D. Loeb to call for a work stoppage, though the group will attempt to return to the bargaining table before actually striking. The union represents more than 60,000 set builders, costume designers, video engineers and other behind-the-scenes workers. note: 아네트 다시보기

The union has pressed production companies to improve compensation and on-set working conditions to reflect the industry’s rising fortunes. Salaries for off-camera personnel have not grown commensurate with those of actors and writers, say workers, who contend the rush to produce new programs has deprived them of time with their families, sleep and even bathroom breaks. note:이터널스 다시보기

“The members have spoken loud and clear,” Loeb said in a news release. “This vote is about the quality of life as well as the health and safety of those who work in the film and television industry. Our people have basic human needs like time for meal breaks, adequate sleep, and a weekend. For those at the bottom of the pay scale, they deserve nothing less than a living wage.” note: 고장난 론 다시보기

Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), whose district includes many of the studios that employ IATSE members, hailed the vote as a step toward workers securing better treatment and compensation.

“Behind-the-scenes workers are the beating heart of the entertainment industry: Without them, the magic we see on screen and on stage could not exist,” Schiff said in a statement. “Today, thousands of these individuals voted to authorize a strike — the next chapter in their ongoing efforts to secure livable wages and acceptable working conditions. The weeks and days leading up to this moment weren’t easy — and the days to come may be harder still, but it is my most ardent hope that an agreement can be struck soon, and that we will see an improvement in wages and working conditions for these talented individuals.” note: 베놈 2 다시보기

A strike could spell disaster for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the group that employs and dispatches workers to sets throughout the country. Streaming giants such as Netflix, Hulu and HBO Max pay the alliance to produce shows or films, and the group contracts with individual IATSE crew members.

The alliance said it offered a “generous comprehensive package,” including expanded rest periods, and nearly $400 million to address a pension and health plan deficit during the negotiations.

The IATSE rejected that offer, and experts say the strike authorization vote gives the union more leverage to negotiate a better deal with the alliance. In 2007, when TV and movie writers staged a 14-week walkout, ratings tanked and networks responded by launching a slew of unsuccessful reality shows. note: 듄 다시보기

With demand for streaming content continuing to soar during the pandemic, a work stoppage could cause major headaches for film and television companies. Experts say a strike would slow production and potentially interfere with seasonal start dates or airtimes. note: 애프터 3 다시보기

“In the short run it would shut everything down,” Glenn Williamson, a producer and former studio executive who teaches at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, told The Washington Post last week. “The people in the guilds — they’re the lifeblood of a production.”

At the heart of the dispute is how workers are compensated for the content available on streaming platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV Plus, HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Post.) note: 분노의 질주 9 다시보기

These streaming services have dramatically altered the Hollywood landscape in recent years, turning production into a year-round endeavor with no downtime, instead of a seasonal one with slow periods built in. The pressure on the workforce has grown significantly.