International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Demand Radical Changes to Working Conditions

Loeb & Loeb Entertainment Labor chair Ivy Kagan Bierman is quoted in an article by The Hollywood Reporter examining recent demands from members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) for radical changes to work conditions during the alliance’s latest round of contract negotiations.

The negotiations come amidst the Great Resignation, the ongoing labor trend in which employees are quitting their jobs across multiple industries. As talks stalled in summer 2021, IATSE members became increasingly vocal about working conditions, mobilizing on social media and overwhelmingly voting to authorize a strike if their union leaders deemed one necessary (thus joining the 100,000-plus workers that threatened to or went on strike in October, leading some to nickname the month “Striketober”).

As IATSE members learn more about the recent tentative agreement between the members’ union and the studios, some believe that the reforms are inadequate and are urging members to vote “no” on ratification.

“We are in a period in our industry where the guilds and the employees are feeling more empowered,” Ivy told The Hollywood Reporter. On the other hand, while there are worker shortages, she noted that she is seeing industry workers who are “eager to get back to work after such a lengthy period of shutdowns.”

Click here to read the article on The Hollywood Reporter’s website.