How Would A Major Crew Strike Affect Hollywood?

For centuries, a career in Hollywood has represented promise, glamour, and the ultimate expression of the American dream. For the majority of TV and film workers who toil tirelessly to bring us the TV series and films we so love to binge-watch, though, working in entertainment often means low wages, punishing hours, and a lack of basic workplace protections. For all these reasons and more, a crew strike is brewing in Los Angeles and beyond, but many who aren’t familiar with the industry might not be clear on what’s being debated. Keep reading for more on the pending IATSE strike that could shut down Hollywood.

First off, what is IATSE?

Simply put, IATSE—or the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada, though that’s sort of a mouthful—is a labor union that represents over 150,000 technicians, artisans, and craftspersons in the entertainment industry. The jobs covered by IATSE include electricians, special effects, script supervisors, set medics, location managers, cinematographers, boom operators, costumers, makeup artists and hairstylists, and animation artists, among others.

Why are IATSE workers preparing to strike?

For most production (or “below the line”) workers in Hollywood, long and grueling shifts, low wages, and a total lack of respect for personal time are often the norm. Even a quick perusal of the Instagram account IATSE Stories, which collects anonymous narratives from entertainment workers, paints a portrait of indignities including eighteen-hour days, little to no time off, wage theft, sleepless (and, therefore, extremely dangerous) drives home from set, untreated medical emergencies, and lost time with loved ones that should appall any film or TV viewer.

Who has come out in support of IATSE?

The Writers Guild of America, SAG-AFTRA, the Directors Guild of America, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have all signed a statement of support for IATSE, as have actors including Seth Rogen, Ben Stiller, Bradley Whitford, Anthony Rapp, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Rachel Zegler, and Jeremy O. Harris.

What kind of direct action have IATSE workers taken beyond striking?

On Monday, many IATSE workers took the step of canceling their streaming subscriptions in hopes of sending a message to studios. “It’s purely grassroots, as a means of getting the attention of these streaming services,” IATSE Local 80 member Terri Freedman told Variety.“The biggest place to affect a corporation is where their income lies.”

What would happen to film and television without IATSE workers?

In its over 100-year history, IATSE has never before gone on strike, and without the work of IATSE crew members, production in Hollywood and beyond would grind to a halt. Unless the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) makes itself amenable to a fair deal, up to 60,000 IATSE workers could end up walking off the job if a strike is authorized on October 1.