Disney's Animation Workers Secure Major Victory

Disney's animation studio workers have finally secured their first union contract. This happened after a long wait of 17 months. The vote, organized by IATSE’s Animation Guild, saw an overwhelming 93% in favor of the contract, with a whopping 96% of eligible voters participating. The new contract brings some big wins for the workers. It ensures that production workers get pension and health benefits. Additionally, there are significant wage increases. Production managers will see a 24% raise, production supervisors a 29% hike, and production coordinators, who are the lowest-paid in the group, will get a 35% jump in their wages. This victory is a huge deal for the workers. It shows the power of unity and perseverance. The journey to this point started with a vote in November 2023. The production workers at Disney Animation Studios chose to be represented by IATSE and the Animation Guild for collective bargaining. The vote was a landslide, with 93% in favor and a 96% turnout. The union now represents about five dozen production coordinators, managers, and supervisors. These workers had declared their intention to unionize back in March 2023. The election, overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, began in mid-October via secret mail-in ballot. This isn't the first time Disney has seen successful unionization efforts. Recently, VFX workers at Marvel Studios and production workers at Nickelodeon have also unionized. This trend shows a growing movement among workers in the entertainment industry. The new contract is a significant step forward for the workers. It provides them with much-needed protections and wage increases. However, it's important to note that other workers, including managers, confidential employees, guards, and supervisors, are not included in this deal. The journey to this contract was long and challenging. It required a lot of effort and determination from the workers. But in the end, their hard work paid off. This victory is a testament to the power of collective bargaining and the importance of worker rights.