A group of 10 remote animation specialists from Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) has drawn the future by filing for unionization. They aim to be represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839. This stands for a monumental change in the animation field’s outlook towards remote work.

Coined as “The Traveling Lab” these trailblazing animation creators aren’t bound by location and have united to demand union acknowledgment from their employer. Importantly, they took a significant leap by applying to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for an official unionization election on Nov. 27, 2023.

“Our aim is to ensure that all artists and writers who work for the same studios have equal rights and standards on the job, regardless of their location,” said BEN Speight, the passionate driving force behind TAG’s remote worker organizing campaign. He further added, “Results have proven that Walt Disney Animation Studios, along with other union studios in LA, can still produce world-class animation work remotely.”

The COVID-19 pandemic paved the way for remote work opportunities in the animation industry. However, the existing collective bargaining agreements weren’t initially set to cover this unexpected shift. Employers initiated flexible digital work measures temporarily until Return to Work protocols were applied. This meant animation workers choosing remote work operations would be operating outside contractual bindings, risking their union statuses.

During the past negotiations with The Animation Guild, employers maintained that this matter wasn’t mandatory. Regardless, the Negotiations Committee, representing animation workers, able to realize the need for union-covered remote work beyond Los Angeles. The negotiations resulted in a new side letter (in the agreement), allowing Los Angeles hired individuals to work remotely outside the county and state, given the employer’s consent. This opened up avenues for members to maintain Union coverage even while working outside of the state. But, studios, including WDAS, chose not to provide union contract protection to these remote workers employed outside of LA County, resulting in lesser pay and restricted benefits.

This ground-breaking move sets a precedent for the animation industry, highlighting the necessity to adapt labor agreements considering the changing work environment. In this regard, The Animation Guild and IATSE stand in unity with their members in creating a fair and inclusive structure that duly recognizes remote working setups.

This unionization filing marks a strategic shift for IATSE and the Animation Guild. They perceive unionizing as an effective method to ensure that more Animation workers have access to the rights and protections associated with a union contract.

Historically, The Animation Guild’s Membership was restricted to individuals residing and working within Los Angeles and contiguous counties. However, The Animation Guild has recently experienced success in organizing workers beyond this demographic boundary. They’re now including workers from other locations such as New York, Virginia, Puerto Rico, Texas, etc. The Animation Guild also gained national jurisdiction from IATSE’s General Executive Board in August 2023 due to its affiliation with IATSE International.

The Animation Guild extends an open invitation to remote animation workers (interested in TAG membership) from other studios. They encourage these workers to visit animationguild.org/remote-work/ and promptly contact an organizer.
#