In a recent announcement, the president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) expressed optimism regarding the ongoing negotiations with studios on new agreements for 23 local unions across the United States. The union, representing approximately 70,000 crew workers nationwide, has been engaged in talks for the past three months, focusing on the Basic Agreement and Area Standards Agreement.

Over the course of the last two weeks, discussions have centered primarily on the Area Standards Agreement, covering about 20,000 workers across 23 locals, including major production hubs like Georgia and New Mexico. Despite the talks concluding on Saturday without a tentative agreement, both parties anticipate adding further negotiation days in June to reach a resolution.

In an official statement, Matt Loeb, the international president of IATSE, expressed gratitude to the ASA Negotiating Committee for their extensive preparations leading up to the negotiations. He highlighted their contributions as crucial in generating the required momentum at the negotiating table. Loeb further stated his hope that a tentative agreement, which will be subject to ratification by union members, will be reached in the near future.

The union is set to resume talks on the Basic Agreement on Monday, focusing on the 13 locals headquartered in Los Angeles. These discussions are projected to continue until Wednesday and have the potential to result in a tentative agreement this week. While both agreements are expected to be similar in most respects, Los Angeles-based workers typically command higher wages.

Throughout the negotiations, IATSE has prioritized several key issues, including a substantial increase in wages, the establishment of a new funding stream for pension and health plans, provisions for rest periods and meal penalties, and regulations concerning subcontracting. Notably, the talks have also addressed the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the industry, particularly in terms of retraining and compensation for workers who may face job displacement due to AI advancements.

Looking ahead, negotiations for the Basic Crafts unions, including Teamsters Local 399 representing approximately 8,000 workers, are scheduled to commence on June 10. All three contracts, namely the Basic Agreement, Area Standards Agreement, and Basic Crafts unions, are set to expire on July 31.

As negotiations resume and the deadline looms, industry stakeholders will be watching closely for updates on the progress made towards reaching agreements that address the concerns and demands of the IATSE and its members.