IATSE Contract Negotiations Shift Focus to AI
IATSE continues negotiations with studios, addressing the impact of AI on production jobs as one of the key points.
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) is now continuing with some of the most challenging aspects of their contract negotiations with Hollywood’s major studios and streaming platforms. Following discussions focused on craft-specific concerns, the union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) are turning their attention to central issues such as wages, residuals, working conditions, and the increasingly pertinent topic of artificial intelligence (AI) in production.
These negotiations are crucial for the union, which represents a large majority of below-the-line workers in TV and film, and are watched closely by an industry that just came out of the dual-strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA. The aim is to reach a consensus on a new three-year contract before the current one expires on July 31, avoiding another potential shutdown.
Matthew Loeb, IATSE International president, expressed a proactive stance in an interview conducted earlier this year. He described AI not as a threat but as a challenge that needs careful consideration. Loeb emphasized the potential of AI to bring efficiencies that could alleviate daily pressures on crews, while also advocating for safeguards to protect jobs and maintain standards.
The approach towards AI differs slightly from that of other unions. While SAG-AFTRA focused on consent and compensation regarding AI’s impact, IATSE’s concerns are more about the potential erosion of their crafts through technology. Loeb mentioned the need for an “umbrella protection” that offers uniform negotiated protections for all their represented crafts, which vary greatly from painters and carpenters to sound mixers and editors.
Mike Miller, Vice President of IATSE International, noted a positive atmosphere in the early stages of discussions, contrasting with the contentiousness observed in last year’s WGA and SAG-AFTRA talks. This positive engagement at the negotiating table is seen as a hopeful sign that studios have adopted a more conciliatory approach in this cycle of negotiations.
As the formal Basic Agreement General Negotiations began, with scheduled sessions running through mid-May, the union confirmed that tentative agreements had already been reached with several locals on discipline-specific issues. These early successes may pave the way for smoother discussions on the broader and more contentious issues.
IATSE has also been rallying its members to show unity and resolve through visual demonstrations of solidarity, encouraging participation in #OneFightFridays, where members wear union merchandise. This show of solidarity is part of a broader effort to ensure strong gains in the ongoing negotiations, emphasizing the critical role that these workers play in the production process and underscoring the high stakes involved in these discussions.