Four LA Council Members call on producers, crew unions to reach agreement

Four Los Angeles City Council members Tuesday introduced a motion urging the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the union representing skilled crew and craftspeople to bargain in good faith and come to an agreement ahead of a potential crew strike that would shut down film and television production in the state.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees represents 52,000 crew and craftspeople living and working in California, including production and department coordinators, writers’ assistants, cinematographers, costumers, grips, script supervisors, technicians, designers and more.

The union is fighting for better working conditions, including “reasonable rest” between shifts, which can run 14 hours or longer.

“Workers have risked their health and safety for the last year and a half, working through the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that the motion picture and television production industry emerged intact and who have worked day and night to return production to pre-pandemic levels,” the resolution said.

The resolution was introduced by Council President Nury Martinez, Councilwoman Nithya Raman and Councilmen Kevin de Leon and Mitch O’Farrell. It was seconded by Councilman Bob Blumenfield. The council members added that the working conditions sought by the union are similar to the conditions that studios afford in Canada and Europe.

“If IATSE and AMPTP cannot come to an agreement and IATSE calls for a strike authorization vote of their members, that a strike would risk shutting down California state film and television production,” the resolution said. “The strike would impact not only all of the 13 IATSE Hollywood Locals, but also locals across the State that together represent 52,000 working women and men who live in our State.”

The resolution called on the parties to bargain in good faith and come to an agreement that addresses safety concerns.

The council did not set a date to vote on the resolution.

Variety reported that voting is set to begin on Friday on whether to authorize a strike, and the result could be announced on Oct. 4.

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