You might remember that on Friday, the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG, IATSE Local 600) had urged is members to vote “yes” on the upcoming IATSE strike authorization on Oct. 1 after the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers balked at responding to IATSE’s recent proposal for a Basic Agreement. Maybe you even watched the video to ICG members sharing information about the need for this strike authorization.
It’s now become a little more official as the ICG’s National Executive Board (NEB) voted unanimously to support the strike authorization vote and recommend its members vote “Yes,” as well.
The action was taken at a special meeting of the NEB called by ICG National President John Lindley after negotiations that had been going on for four months on the successor contracts to the Producer-IATSE Basic Agreement, the Videotape Supplemental Agreement and the Theatrical and Television Motion Picture Area Standards Agreement covering some 60,000 workers across 13 locals of the Hollywood Bargaining Unit.
In a statement, Lindley said, “The Elected Leaders of Local 600 spoke with one voice today on behalf of the thousands of their members who are unified in their resolve to get a fair deal from the employers who have walked away from the bargaining table.”
Rebecca Rhine, ICG National Executive Director added, “This fight is about basic rights and safe and healthy working conditions. Nobody wants to go on strike, but we have been given little choice by companies that are earning record profits off our members’ labor but are unwilling to treat those same workers with dignity and respect.”
Local 600 stands united with the other locals in the bargaining unit on the core principles of the negotiations that center on rest periods, breaks, a living wage, sustainable benefits and fair compensation for work in streaming which is now a well-established and profitable business.
In August, top members of ICG 600, including many Oscar-winning cinematographers wrote a direct letter to the companies that makes up AMPTP to address the “unsafe working hours” that seems to be one of the main sticking points in the contract negotiations.
What does this mean for the impending call for a strike authorization? Not a hell of a lot. The vote won’t go out to members until Friday, Oct. 1, and we’re not likely to get results from ICG and the other 12 locals until Monday, Oct 4.
