Hollywood has been going through some tough times lately, with big strikes by writers and actors in 2023.
But now, there’s some good news that might help things get back to normal.
The union that represents most behind-the-scenes workers in movies and TV shows has made a deal with studios. This union is called IATSE, which stands for International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. The deal they made is called the Basic Agreement, and it covers about 50,000 workers.
These workers are the people who do all kinds of important jobs that you might not think about when you’re watching a movie or TV show. They include art directors who design the sets, painters who make those sets look real, editors who put the footage together, camera operators who film the action, costume designers who create the clothes actors wear, and hair stylists and makeup artists who make the actors look their best.
The deal is important because it makes it less likely that there will be another big strike in Hollywood. People were worried that 2024 might bring more strikes after what happened last year, but this agreement helps calm those fears.
One big part of the deal is about pay. The workers will get pay increases of 7%, 4%, and 3.5% over the next three years. That means their paychecks will get bigger each year. The deal also says that if someone has to work more than 15 hours in a day (which can happen a lot in Hollywood), they’ll get paid three times their normal rate for those extra hours.
Another important part of the agreement is about artificial intelligence (AI). The union wanted to make sure that AI wouldn’t take away jobs from real people. The deal includes rules to protect workers from this.
Some famous actors, like Mark Ruffalo and Kerry Washington, had asked the studios to give these crew members a fair contract. It looks like their voices were heard.
It’s important to know that this deal isn’t final yet. The 50,000 workers still need to vote to approve it. If they do, it will last for three years.
There’s still another agreement being negotiated that affects about 20,000 more crew members across the country. But this Basic Agreement is a big step towards getting Hollywood back to work smoothly after a difficult year.
This deal shows that even after tough times and disagreements, people in the movie and TV industry can come together and find solutions that work for everyone.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.