Visual Effects Artists At Marvel Vote To Unionize, Joining A Growing Labor Movement

Marvel

Aug 10

Though you likely won’t read about it in the media at large, there is a growing labor movement sweeping the United States at the moment. The Writers Guild of America (WGA), and Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Actors (SAG-AFTRA) are currently on strike protesting the current state of pay in the entertainment industry and fighting the growing use of AI by studios. UPS came back to the negotiating table after the Teamsters Union effectively displayed its strike power. Furthermore, pilots recently won a new contract with the airlines, and service industry employees in Los Angeles walked off the job for 24 hours to protest work conditions.

This is the strongest and most widespread labor movement in nearly 50 years, and one of the least unionized parts of Hollywood has joined the movement. VFX artists at Marvel, over 50 employees, have filed to have an election by August 21 with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and to be represented by IATSE. IATSE, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, represents nearly 170,000 of the behind-the-scenes people who help make movies and plays. VFX artists are one of the last groups in Hollywood to join a union, and their move is likely inspired by the solidarity displayed by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA.

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This also comes at a time when visual effects have become so integral to the movie-making process, that it’s often common for VFX teams to be overworked and working under what those in the video game industry would call “crunch time.” i09 ran an exposé detailing what sources describe working conditions within the industry. The article discusses a bidding process that can grossly underpay the employees, and part of the reason why Marvel is the target here is due to their propensity for turning out numerous films that are heavily reliant on visual effects.

The NLRB is the federal government regulatory body that oversees labor conditions in the country and will render a decision on the legality and legitimacy of the petition.

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