As negotiations proceed for a new Basic Agreement between IATSE and AMPTP, Motion Picture Editors Guild (IATSE Local 700), the second largest of the 13 Locals that work under the contact, has reached a tentative agreement on its craft-specific proposals, the Guild announced to members in an email on Friday night.
That means eight, including the three largest locals — the Editors Guild, International Cinematographers Guild (Local 600) and Art Directors Guild (Local 800) — have all reached tentative deals with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
The Editors Guild was initially expected to spend three days bargaining on its issues, but negotiators on both sides decided they needed more time to reach an agreement. The guild ultimately got five days in total.
The AMPTP has set aside five weeks in total to focus solely on local negotiations, at times meeting simultaneously with two guilds to allow more time at the table. The two sides will not meet next week, as they spend time in “caucus” meetings among themselves, but will return after that for two additional weeks of local bargaining.
Others that recently announced tentative deals include Local 871, whose membership includes script supervisors, writers’ assistants and accountants.
Basic Agreement negotiations, which are expected to include AI, pension and health funding, and other major issues, are scheduled to begin April 29. The current Basic Agreement expires July 31.
The local agreements are not binding until the entire Basic Agreement is ratified, which IATSE hopes to have done before the July 31 expiration.
The AMPTP also has to reach deals with Teamsters Local 399 and the other Basic Crafts unions, which include electrical workers and laborers.
Source Agencies
