The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the union began talks on a basic contract at the end of the month of April and continued through to the 16th of May. Although the scheduled negotiation period did not result in a deal, there is hope that a deal will be reached before the current contract expires on the 31st of July. In a notice posted on the union website, IATSE stated that its negotiators “are not interested in an extension” to the current agreement. This has led to fears that another strike could occur this summer after the writers’ and actors’ stoppages last year. IATSE reported that the third week of basic contract talks covered retirement and health benefits as well as artificial intelligence, wages, and working conditions. The union’s Area Standards Agreement will be the focus of the talks between the union and AMPTP, which are scheduled to begin next week and continue until the end May. This agreement expires also at the end July. The union, which represents 170,000 workers in the entertainment industry below the line, said that basic agreement talks “should restart in early June.” IATSE International President Matthew D Loeb stated in a statement released on Friday, May 17, that “We are working to set additional bargaining dates to further negotiate the deal our member deserve.” Talks remain ongoing and we are focused on achieving the goals we came to the table with: improved wages and safer working conditions, consistent funding for our benefit plans, reasonable AI and subcontracting protections, and appropriate enhancements to our Videotape Agreement and Sideletters.”
