'Rust' shooting and debate over studio contract terms have divided IATSE leaders and members, who are voting on the new agreement

camera crew film set — Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

IATSE union members are voting on a new contract that affects working conditions for 60,000 workers.
Some union members expressed disappointment with the most recent version of the three-year agreement.
The fatal shooting on the "Rust" set re-sparked discussions of working conditions for union members.

Though an industry-wide strike was averted last month, it remains a divisive time for Hollywood's crew member union.

Amid a workers' movement sweeping across industries revolving around poor working conditions and low pay, members of the International Alliance of Stage and Theatrical Employees (IATSE) union are voting on whether to approve the the group's Basic Agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which was negotiated in October, narrowly avoiding a strike that would have severely impacted TV and film production.

But in some ways, the Basic Agreement has highlighted the misalignment between union leadership and members.

The updated terms outline several "improvements" for members in their agreement with Hollywood studios, including more hours between workdays, yearly pay bumps, and diversity initiatives. IATSE leaders have spent the past weeks pushing members for "yes" votes.

"We continue to believe that not only did we reach the best agreement possible after these many months of negotiations culminating in a resounding strike authorization vote that was a turning point in us achieving what we set out to do, but also that the solidarity among the locals was inspiring and astounding in the linchpin to our success," IATSE's West Coast Studio Locals said in a statement to members in October.

Insider reached out to IATSE, but it had no further comment on the ratification vote at this time.

Insider spoke with multiple members from different crafts in IATSE, some of whom did not want to be identified for fear of retribution from the union for speaking with the press.

The negotiated agreement was "presented with this attitude of, 'Hey, we got everything we asked for,'" a Local 44 set dresser told Insider. "Members took a look at the contract and they were like, 'This is not what we want or need. It falls very short of that.'"

The deal "was celebrated so heavily by the negotiators and our union reps that it just sort of took all the momentum that had been building for weeks," a property master in IATSE echoed. "The bullet points were so vague and weak and not enough alone to sway me that I immediately felt like we shouldn't ratify it."

The closed-door negotiations took place between a few representatives of IATSE and AMPTP, leaving some rank-and-file members feeling out of the loop.

"We don't get to see what happens in the room, but we see the outcome and that has frustrated people," said another property master, Jo Crandall, who added that some members feel "unseen" and "expendable." He is still unsure about how he will vote.

The industry's issues came into clearer focus after an accident on the set of "Rust" that killed a cinematographer, reigniting discussions over working conditions and accountability.

"With the recent passing of our fellow member, Halyna Hutchins, we are reminded of the lengths we go to in the name of motion pictures," IA Members Unite, a group within IATSE, said in a statement. "What makes her death more infuriating is that it could've been prevented by following basic safety protocol."

While some members are planning to vote against ratification, others are worried about whether workers are prepared for the fallout of a "no" vote.

"I think a lot of people are very anxious to get it right the first time," Matt Schouten, a Digital Imaging Technician told Insider. "At the same time, if we don't show solidarity now in terms of what we're asking for, it could be a problem in the future."

Regardless of the outcome, members have mixed views on how the new agreement affects the months-long momentum of the union's fight for better working conditions.

"Everyone I talked to is just so defeated," said lighting technician Jacob Watts. "They're just kind of hanging their head like, 'If we couldn't do this now, we're never going to do it.'"

"Just bringing awareness to certain things has changed some of the culture on some of these sites already - and that's without a contract," said script coordinator Amy Thurlow, who remained hopeful for the union's movement. "Unionism and standing in solidarity with each other is more than just a contract."

Voting for IATSE members under the Basic Agreement takes place from Friday, November 12, to Sunday, November 14, with results expected to be posted sometime the following week.

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