Iatse

The union representing Hollywood's film and television crew workers has ended its walkout against the Pac-12 Network. Declaring a "victory" in a strike launched nearly two weeks ago, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees President Matt Loeb called off pickets that had been scheduled this week at Pac-12 college basketball games, including those at UCLA and USC, and told members they were free to return to work. The decision came after Pac-12 Network representatives agreed to hold negotiations with the union, which had previously alleged the network was engaged in "unfair" labor practices by using non-union crews, who are generally paid lower wages and don't have benefits.

The union representing Hollywood's film and television crew workers has ended its walkout against the Pac-12 Network. Declaring a "victory" in a strike launched nearly two weeks ago, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees President Matt Loeb called off pickets that had been scheduled this week at Pac-12 college basketball games, including those at UCLA and USC, and told members they were free to return to work. The decision came after Pac-12 Network representatives agreed to hold negotiations with the union, which had previously alleged the network was engaged in "unfair" labor practices by using non-union crews, who are generally paid lower wages and don't have benefits.

After less than a day, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees called off its strike against the reality TV series "The Great Escape. " IATSE, which represents below-the-line crew members on films and television shows, said Saturday morning that workers on the upcoming TNT series had walked off the job because producers had blocked efforts to unionize the show. The crew picketed for several hours outside the Placerita Canyon power plant in Santa Clarita where the show was filming.

The dispute between the newly formed Pac-12 Network and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees is escalating. IATSE, which represents over 100,000 crew members who work on movies and TV shows, will set up picket lines outside college games at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on Tuesday and Saturday and at USC's Galen Center on Thursday, according to sources close to the union. The union earlier this month declared a strike against the Pac-12 Network, contending the network was using non-union crews, who are generally paid lower wages and don't have benefits.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which represents more than 38,000 behind-the-scenes workers in the film and television industries, has ratified a new three-year contract with Hollywood producers. Fourteen Hollywood locals, which represent IATSE members in professions such as camera operator, set decorator and grip, unanimously approved the new contract, which provides for a 2% annual wage increase and a 20% raise in employer contributions to the union health plan.

The dispute between the newly formed Pac-12 Network and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees is escalating. IATSE, which represents over 100,000 crew members who work on movies and TV shows, will set up picket lines outside college games at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on Tuesday and Saturday and at USC's Galen Center on Thursday, according to sources close to the union. The union earlier this month declared a strike against the Pac-12 Network, contending the network was using non-union crews, who are generally paid lower wages and don't have benefits.

Should Bart Simpson join a union? In an effort to win converts to the union cause, a Hollywood guild orchestrated the filing of a lawsuit Friday on behalf of animators who work on "The Simpsons"--even though the cartoonists are not union members. With the help and support of Local 839 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes (IATSE), one current employee and one former employee of Klasky-Csupo, Inc.

Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" is now yukking it up with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. IATSE, the union representing crew members who worked behind the scenes on film and TV shows, said Wednesday that technical employees of “The Daily Show” have unanimously ratified their first collective bargaining agreement. The contract is the culmination of negotiations between IATSE and the producers of the hit made-for-basic-cable series after voluntary recognition of the union by the employer, IATSE said.

Crew members from the new Los Angeles-based reality TV show "The Great Escape" walked off the job after talks between producers and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees broke down on Friday. IATSE, which represents technical workers who operate behind the scenes on films and TV shows, has called a strike against the TNT series, alleging producers have blocked efforts to bring union benefits to the show's crew. "By obstructing the IATSE's organizing efforts, the union has declared the show and company off-limits for its members," IATSE said in a statement Saturday morning.

Bruce Willis' remarks that unions, presumably including his own Screen Actors Guild, have put a "gun to (the) head" of the producers and thereby become the chief reason for the atrocious costs of making movies were vicious, uncalled for and untrue ("Bruce & Joel's Q & A Adventure," May 19). The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes is the largest union in the entertainment field. Our people are so-called below-the-line employees: camera and sound crews, editors, electricians, grips, special-effects people and many others.

Costume designers and art directors who work on such shows as HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" have a new three-year contract. The new contract, which includes 2% annual wage increases and higher contributions to the union health plan, was unanimously ratified by members of United Scenic Artists Local USA 829, which is part of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. The contract will run through September 30, 2015 and applies to scenic artists and designers, art directors, costume designers, art department coordinators and their assistants working in feature film and television production in the city of New York, Nassau County and the Meadowlands area of New Jersey.

Hollywood's animators have inked a new contract. Members of the Animation Guild Local 839 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees voted 87% to 13% to affirm a new three-year contract recently negotiated by the union. The contract will provide 2% annual increases in wages and requires employers to boost by 20% the hourly contribution to the union's health plan. Members with dependents, however, would also be required for the first time to pay premiums of $25 to $50 a month for healthcare coverage.

Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" is now yukking it up with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. IATSE, the union representing crew members who worked behind the scenes on film and TV shows, said Wednesday that technical employees of “The Daily Show” have unanimously ratified their first collective bargaining agreement. The contract is the culmination of negotiations between IATSE and the producers of the hit made-for-basic-cable series after voluntary recognition of the union by the employer, IATSE said.

Hollywood's location managers have staked out a new three-year contract. Teamsters Local 399 on Thursday reached a tentative agreement for about 600 location managers in the Los Angeles area   with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, said a person close to the negotiations who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. Patterned after similar contracts negotiated by studio drivers, camera operators, grips and other technical crews and crafts workers, the new deal provides a 2% annual wage increase and additional funding for the union's health plan.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which represents more than 38,000 behind-the-scenes workers in the film and television industries, has ratified a new three-year contract with Hollywood producers. Fourteen Hollywood locals, which represent IATSE members in professions such as camera operator, set decorator and grip, unanimously approved the new contract, which provides for a 2% annual wage increase and a 20% raise in employer contributions to the union health plan.

Two of Hollywood's largest unions said they were investigating working conditions on the production of Lindsay Lohan's TV movie "Liz & Dick. " "We have had union representatives on the set since last Friday and will continue to monitor the hours and working conditions there," said Mike Miller, motion picture and television director for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which represents technical workers on films and TV...

As a camera assistant and a member of the International Photographer's Guild, Local 659 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), I am both pleased and relieved that the producers and directors have narrowly averted a strike. Having survived both the actor's and writer's strikes earlier in this decade, I have come to fear the potential damage of an industry strike. In this current negotiation period my union and the other craft unions of the IATSE lent our support to the Director's Guild so that they would have the best chance to obtain a fair contract.