IATSE set to get down to business
Union begins talks with AMPTP on April 7
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The below-the-line union's going in for three days of talks on its Hollywood contract on April 7 -- even though its current deal doesn't expire for another 16 months.
Neither IATSE nor the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers would comment Tuesday on the negotiations, first disclosed three weeks ago (Daily Variety, March 3).
But longtime IATSE president Thomas Short has indicated the union will show up with a focused proposal, as he's told associates he expects to conclude a deal by April 9. As with the DGA, IATSE leaders prefer to negotiate long before contract expirations in order to secure the best possible deal, operating on the belief that employers will agree to terms that are more favorable to the union in exchange for labor stability.
IATSE, which covers about 25,000 below-the-line employees in 18 locals in the contract, is a little over halfway through its current contract. That pact, finalized in early 2006, expires in August 2009.
IATSE's willingness to negotiate early contrasts sharply with SAG and AFTRA, which have not scheduled a start date for negotiations on their feature-primetime contract, which expires June 30. The AMPTP's offered to start as early as next Monday, but SAG's insisted it can't respond until after Saturday's joint national board meeting with AFTRA, when the union leaders are scheduled to approve the contract proposal.
SAG and AFTRA leaders began two days of closed-door meetings Tuesday to hammer out the proposal.
SAG's strong support for the WGA during the strike, combined with its lack of speed in getting to the table, has created worries about a possible strike by actors. So an early IATSE deal might be touted as a message to SAG leaders that they don't need much time to reach an agreement.
Short was harshly critical of the WGA strike on a number of fronts -- the impact on IATSE members, the WGA's refusal to negotiate early and the WGA's attempt to establish jurisdiction in reality and animation, where IATSE also has representation. When the WGA-AMPTP talks collapsed in December, Short said the WGA leadership was "a huge clown car that's only missing the hats and horns."
The IATSE proposal will likely seek to incorporate gains from the DGA and WGA contracts plus last year's West Coast Teamster deal, in addition to reaching a deal before a possible SAG strike.
In another development Tuesday, the Los Angeles Country Federation of Labor announced it will hold a three-day 28-mile "Hollywood to the Docks" solidarity march starting April 15 in Hollywood and ending two days later in San Pedro. Federation rep Mary Gutierrez said SAG, AFTRA, IATSE and the Teamsters are among the unions that will participate.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa issued a statement Tuesday noting that he had asked the unions and studios to move quickly towards reaching a deal. He noted the WGA strike had cost the local economy $2.5 billion, according to one estimate.
"As the national economy continues to weaken, there is little doubt that another work stoppage within the industry would have devastating economic effects," he said. "I urge all involved to get the deals done expeditiously. We must keep this town working, and avoid devastating effects on the workers, businesses, residents and economy of this great City."
The AMPTP, which had announced Feb. 14 it was ready to start talks with the actors, said in response, "We have always wanted to begin negotiations as soon as possible, and we remain committed to starting negotiations immediately. Actors and producers alike have an obligation to work as hard as we can, as soon as we can, to prevent another unnecessary, harmful strike."
AFTRA responded by saying it has always favored going early.
"AFTRA has long favored starting negotiations for the primetime TV contract as soon as possible, and we appreciate the Mayor's support."
