The Teamsters union and other key Hollywood trade unions have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with major studios.
The Motion Picture and Television Producers Association had made a “last, best, final” offer on Friday. The unions responded late Friday night, then worked to reach an agreement late Saturday.
“After 48 long hours, we are pleased to announce that all essential craft workers in Hollywood have reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP late this evening,” the union said just before midnight Saturday. “Essential craft workers spent the day working closely with member-led negotiating committees to finalize a deal with the AMPTP that we can now say has been unanimously recommended by the member-led negotiating committees.”
No details were provided about the agreement. The Local 399 Truckers Association was scheduled to hold a member meeting on Sunday and will provide more information.
The union was seeking a double-digit wage increase, along with strict protections against subcontracting and self-driving trucks.
The deal was reached four days before the contract was set to expire on Wednesday. Hollywood truckers have not gone on strike since a three-week lockout in 1988.
This comes in the wake of the agreement with the International Federation of Theatre Workers, which was ratified on July 18.
Workers have been struggling with a global industry downturn and were hoping the agreements would resolve any uncertainty that might hinder a return to full production.
The core trade unions represent about 8,000 workers in total, including drivers, animal handlers, site managers, electricians and labourers. The unions have repeatedly warned that they will not extend the contract beyond its expiration date of July 31.
The unions had already settled issues related to health care and pension plans, which were negotiated jointly with the IATSE.
The IATSE contract covers about 70,000 workers, and offers 7% raises in the first year, triple time after 15 hours, and some protection from artificial intelligence.
Although the ITA negotiations have gone relatively smoothly, with few outward signs of tension, truckers have repeatedly warned that the two sides are “out of touch.” The union held a webinar on July 14 with Lindsay Dougherty, president of Section 399, and Sean O’Brien, the union’s general president.
“I want to be clear,” Dougherty said in the webinar. “We are not looking for a strike. We are fighting for a fair deal for our members. However, we will not negotiate against ourselves. We will not be afraid to take our priorities off the table, and we will not accept any concessions.”
