Stand With Production, a grassroots group consisting of TV commercial production workers, is making significant progress in their efforts to form a national union with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). This group includes production assistants, assistant production supervisors, production supervisors, line producers, and bidding producers. A majority of the estimated 5,000 TV commercial production workers have signed union cards indicating their support for joining IATSE. This historic development will require the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) to voluntarily recognize the group, following a previously agreed-to neutrality agreement.
IATSE international president Matthew Loeb expressed his excitement about this milestone, stating that the Stand With Production movement has always aimed to initiate dialogue and establish written agreements to address the concerns and needs of workers. Now, thousands of workers will have the opportunity to see positive changes in their working conditions.
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to AICP for comment on this latest development, but no response has been received at this time.
The Stand With Production group first publicly announced their initiative to form a national union a year ago. They sought voluntary recognition from the AICP, which represents commercial production companies in labor negotiations. Initially, the AICP resisted the unionization efforts, expressing concerns about potential job losses, reduced income for workers, increased production outsourcing, and restrictions on work rules and jurisdictional boundaries. However, in October 2022, the AICP signed a neutrality agreement with IATSE, promising to recognize the group if a majority of workers signed union cards verified by a third-party arbitrator. To be eligible, workers needed to have worked two applicable jobs within the past 12 months.
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The Stand With Production movement gained momentum after a walk-off by production workers, the COVID compliance team, and the script supervisor on a commercial for a major tech company in the fall of 2021. The walk-off was inspired by the working conditions faced by Erin Wile and Cheyenne Cage, who received significant support from their colleagues. The overwhelming response prompted Wile and Cage to organize virtual “town halls” to discuss the challenges faced by production workers in the industry. Subsequently, the group released a set of labor standards that they believed should be upheld by the industry. This led to their exploration of unionization, and their connection with IATSE. The fact that such a well-organized movement existed prior to a formal unionization campaign was noted as unusual, yet welcomed by a source close to the union.
The recent news that the Stand With Production group has achieved a majority in support of unionization has been described by Erin Wile and Cheyenne Cage as “surreal.” As they reflect on their journey, they are beginning to realize the significance of their accomplishment.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time IATSE has attempted to unionize commercial production workers. A few years ago, they made an unsuccessful attempt to include production supervisors, assistant production supervisors, and IATSE Local 871 under a sideletter in the commercials agreement.
This development marks an important step toward improving the working conditions and rights of TV commercial production workers. It signifies a shift in power dynamics within the industry and demonstrates the collective strength of workers when united in pursuit of common goals. The path to the formation of a national union is not without challenges, but with continued support and collaboration, it has the potential to make a lasting impact on the lives and livelihoods of TV commercial production workers.
