Teamsters and Basic Crafts Unions Ratify Contracts

July 2024 · 4 minute read

The Teamsters and other Hollywood Basic Crafts unions announced Thursday that they have ratified their new contracts, which provide 7% wage increases across the board.

The five unions — which collectively represent about 8,000 workers — reached a tentative deal on Saturday night with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

Teamsters Local 399 fought for double-digit wage increases, along with a ban on driverless trucks and a minimum staffing rule of one driver per truck. But the studios were not willing to break the wage pattern set by SAG-AFTRA last year and by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees — annual increases of 7%, 4% and 3.5%.

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Some classifications were able to get increases above that level. Negotiators were unable to get the staffing minimum or language on autonomous vehicles, though the AMPTP did offer its assurance that the studios have no plans to use driverless trucks.

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“Preparation for the next round of negotiations starts now,” said Lindsay Dougherty, the leader of Teamsters Local 399, in a statement. “We will continue to keep an eye on technological advancements, advocate for increased work here in California, make certain Teamsters and Teamsters only are doing our work and fight for all Motion Picture Teamsters for the compensation, working conditions and respect that is owed.”

The Teamsters voted 96% in support of the “Black Book” agreement, which covers drivers, dispatchers, animal wranglers and mechanics. The location managers, also represented by the Teamsters, supported their deal by a vote of 98%.

The four other Basic Crafts unions approved their contracts by the following margins: LiUNA! Local 724, the laborers’ union, 96%; IBEW Local 40, the electricians, 92%; OPCMIA Local 755, the plasterers, 97%; UA Local 78, the plumbers, 97%.

With production still struggling to cover from last year’s double strike, the contracts mean that workers will not have to worry about another industrywide shutdown this year. The AMPTP congratulated the unions in a statement.

“The significant economic gains, benefits, additional safety measures, and quality of life improvements in these new contracts reflect the immense value and contributions the hard-working members of these unions bring to Hollywood daily,” the studio group stated. “These deals will contribute to a stronger and more stable future for the motion picture industry – one that can continue to innovate and create and maintain well-paid jobs for its employees.”

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