The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees reported Monday that almost 99% of the registered members participated in the strike, which was 52,706 people.
The contract dispute involves requests for better conditions for technicians, craftspeople and laborers who work for streaming companies such as Netflix, Apple, and Amazon. This includes safer hours, guaranteed meals breaks, more rest periods, better pay and reasonable rest periods.
Matthew Loeb (the alliance's president) said that he hoped the studios would see and appreciate the resolve of the members. They have the ball in their court. They will make us a reasonable offer if they want to avoid a striking.
In July, the most recent three-year contract was terminated. This led to four months of negotiations between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The group represents both studios and streamers in negotiation. However, discussions were halted on September 20, after streaming shows like "The Crown", "Ted Lasso," and "The Queen's Gambit", which won the Emmy Awards.
Loeb stated that his goal was to reach an agreement and not to "have any dispute," but noted that the vote was about "quality of life, as well as the safety and health of those working in the film- and television industries."
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees stated that it was "incomprehensible" that the AMPTP, a media giant that is worth trillions of US dollars, claimed it could not provide basic human needs like adequate sleep, food breaks, and living wage.
To ensure that their business survived the coronavirus pandemic, the union also worked with its members. "We cannot and won't accept a deal that doesn't make sense for us.
In a statement, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers stated that it is committed to reaching an agreement that will keep television production going. This was especially true considering the industry's ongoing recovery from the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.
It stated that "A deal can still be reached at the bargaining table but it will require both sides to work together in good faith and to find new solutions.
Unions such as the Writers Guild of America are more often on the verge of striking and did strike in 2007-08. However, Hollywood crews, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Workers, do not have a history of significant strikes. Only one other dispute occurred in 1945 when set decorators walked off for six months, resulting in a riot at Warner Bros. studios that was known as "Bloody Friday." If this happens, it would be the first strike in the history of the theatrical stage worker group.
Numerous Hollywood stars have expressed support for the demands of the crew, including producer and actor Octavia Spencer, who tweeted her support Monday.
Spencer wrote, "I hope #AMPTP does right and sits down again." "They aren't asking for anything unreasonable."
