Netflix Production Accountants based in New York and New Jersey reached an agreement with Netflix to recognize them as members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 161. Back in November, the streaming studio agreed to a count by a neutral third party. Ultimately, a majority of the bargaining unit signed union authorization cards to proceed with unionization.
The bargaining unit of Production Accountants includes Clerks, who, for the first time, organized with Local 161. Most have worked in New York and New Jersey without a union contract with Netflix since 2021, even though the studio joined the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) two years ago.
Now, contract negotiations begin.
Credit goes to the “Count Us In” successful IATSE organizing campaigns covering Animation, Visual Effects, and Commercial Production workers. “The ‘Count Us In’ campaign is proof that we, as Accountants, deserve representation and a fair contract, just like our union kin in other crafts,” said Local 161 President Laura Fearon, a Payroll Accountant and Local 161 member since 2008. “We have always been IATSE, and like all IATSE members, we are an essential part of the crew, making sure that everybody in the cast and crew gets paid. We hope that other AMPTP studios will follow Netflix’s lead and meet us at the bargaining table.”
Production Accountants and all accounting department crew who have worked for AMPTP studios, no matter their union status, are encouraged to visit Count Us In HQ to join the fight for a fair deal. “Over the last several months, we have seen an unprecedented solidarity movement among motion picture workers across various unions and crafts,” said Local 161 Accountant and Vice President April Tafoya. “We are proud to be a part of that, as we take this historic first step towards winning the fair contract that all Production Accountants deserve.”
