Disney draws a line with Pixar
Bay Area employees won't be joining Mouse staffers as union members
Despite persistent questions over whether its 800 employees in the Bay Area city of Emeryville will join Disney's animation staffers as union members, the Mouse House confirmed that's not in the works.
"The deal does not impact either group's status," says Walt Disney Co.'s Zenia Mucha.
Since Pixar will now be part of Walt Disney Feature Animation, which is a signatory to the Animation Guild, which operates as IATSE Local 839 and reps about 640 animators and writers at Disney, many members have been wondering whether they'll soon be joined by the team behind "The Incredibles" and "Cars."
Animation Guild business agent Steve Hulett has been answering the queries by saying it's uncertain what might happen. But he suggests San Francisco-based IATSE 16 might rep the Pixar employees. "Ultimately, it's going to depend on the corporate structure," he adds.
For its part, Pixar's been mum on how this will play out. Pixar president Ed Catmull will take over Walt Disney Feature Animation, and John Lasseter will be chief creative officer when the Mouse's $7.4 billion acquisition of Pixar closes in a month or two.
