Studios reach agreement with Hollywood unions to avert strike

The union representing behind-the-scenes film and television crews, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, has signed a provisional three-year agreement with the studios for its approximately 50,000 members.

The agreement includes salary increases and protections for artificial intelligence and must be approved by members through a vote.

The big picture: The deal affects 50,000 crew members from 13 different union associations on the West Coast, including those in roles as diverse as art directors, set painters, editors, camera technicians, costume designers, hairdressers and makeup artists.

• A separate agreement affecting about 20,000 crew members across the country is currently being negotiated.

The background story: Previous strikes and labor unrest in Hollywood had increased fears of work stoppages in 2024, but this tentative agreement with the studios has eased concerns.

The headlines determine: The agreement was made with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents major companies such as Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery and Amazon Prime.

• Details of the agreement include new protections for AI, wage increases over the three-year term, tripling pay for those working more than 15 hours a day, and studio payments to cover the shortfall in the union’s health insurance budget.