In an exciting development, over 5,000 freelance TV commercial production workers have joined forces under the grassroots movement called “Stand With Production” and have expressed their desire to unionize with IATSE. This significant number of workers has signed authorization cards certifying their support for the union. The Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) has also agreed to recognize them as a group for collective bargaining purposes, a voluntary recognition that marks a major step forward.
IATSE President Matt Loeb expressed his satisfaction with this progress, stating, “From the beginning, the Stand With Production movement has been about opening a dialogue with those in power and turning those solutions into written agreements. Now, thousands of workers will see this become a reality.”
The organizing workers consist of various roles within TV commercial production, including production assistants, line producers, production supervisors, assistant production supervisors, and bidding producers. IATSE has announced its plans to establish a new national Local Union specifically for these workers. This move aims to address the issues they face, such as low pay, long and unsustainable working hours, lack of rest, inadequate healthcare and retirement benefits, ineligibility for overtime pay, and limited access to safety and training. By joining IATSE, these workers will become the largest group of production department workers and entry-level production assistants within the union.
While certain crew positions on TV commercial sets have historically been represented by IATSE, the production department workers have not had the same representation. However, Stand With Production’s proposed guidelines for production teams gained significant support in 2021, leading to a partnership with IATSE. This collaboration resulted in an IATSE-AICP Neutrality Agreement and Procedures for Voluntary Recognition, solidifying the union’s support for these workers.
Under the terms of the neutrality agreement, the AICP has agreed to immediately and voluntarily recognize the unionization of these workers and commence negotiations with them as a group. IATSE emphasizes that these newly organized freelance TV commercial production department workers will have the full support of the union and its traditionally represented crafts during the negotiation process.
Matt Loeb has previously expressed solidarity with the commercial production workers, stating, “Your fight is our fight.” As a union with a strong presence in the entertainment industry, IATSE has a long history of addressing the very same issues that these workers are now fighting for through collective bargaining. With 168,000 members across various sectors of the industry, including those who work directly on commercials, IATSE stands united with the Stand With Production movement in their pursuit of fair and just working conditions.
