Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
In a first-of-its-kind victory, the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) announced the ratification of a new contract with the Association of Independent Commercial Producers Inc. (AICP) on Wednesday.
The historic agreement covers television commercial production workers—including roles like production assistants, production supervisors, bidding producers and more—for the first time across hundreds of companies. Members of the Production Workers Guild (PWG), IATSE Local 111, won stronger workplace protections, better health care access, improved reimbursement procedures and other provisions that ensure parity with fellow crew members.
“This ratified agreement is the culmination of four years of activism and organizing born out of the grassroots ‘Stand With Production’ movement which saw commercial production workers first stand up in the face of deteriorating conditions, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. “It is a testament to the solidarity, resolve, and resourcefulness of production department workers. This first agreement sets a foundation that we will look to build upon for the future, with talks for a successor agreement just three years away.”