Teamsters accept studios' offer, averting a strike threat

Hollywood drivers on Sunday accepted a proposed contract from the studios, averting a strike that could have caused widespread disruptions to production across the country.

The vote came after last-minute negotiations Saturday yielded a compromise that mollified leaders of Teamsters Local 399, who were prepared to seek a strike authorization vote from members.

The two sides had been locked in a standoff over pay rates for more than 3,000 drivers who deliver equipment and stars to film and TV sets.

The studios offered an increase in health-plan contributions and a proposed 2% annual pay increase for drivers. Teamsters wanted a 3% increase, the same rate given to other unions, especially their rival union, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which bargained on behalf of the studios, rejected the demand, citing the weak economy, which had buffeted DVD sales and forced cutbacks.

On Saturday, however, the studios offered some additional incentives to the Teamsters, including adding travel pay for certain types of drivers.

The dispute came at a delicate time for the studios, who are gearing up for contract negotiations this fall with the Hollywood's actors and later writers, whose contracts expire in 2011. 

It was also unusual because the Teamsters, a blue-collar union whose members also represent location managers and casting directors, generally stay below the radar and rarely engage in public standoffs with the studios, with which they've generally enjoyed a stable relationship over the last two decades. Teamsters last struck for 24 days in 1988.

Although Teamsters openly supported writers during their strike in 2007-08, they've worked closely with studios on legislative issues, such as support for California's film tax incentives and the proposed Comcast-NBC Universal merger.

-- Richard Verrier

Comments

[Schigolch]

And then you wonder why film production is fleeing Los Angeles?

[pasadena jag]

The WGA had a chance to join the Teamsters at one time. But the backward writer's guild said no and has done nothing for its members during each strike. Talk about a totally mis-manged guild its the Writers Guild of America. It is top heavy with idiotic politically correct groups and does little to fight for the bucks. It still is run by a lot of people still talking about the blacklist. Get over it.

[Christopher Redmond]

Why would you call I.A.T.S.E. a "rival" union to the Teamsters? They work together on sets and do not compete for membership or representation. Unions such as SAG and AFTRA are "rivals" in that they compete with each other over membership, representation, and money. I.A.T.S.E. and the Teamsters have no such conflict.

[MWP]

A bullet dodged, thank G-d. Thank you Teamsters. That's all that this community needs is another work stoppage. I lost my job at the end of the writer's strike in 2008, and have gotten back on my feet, finally. I'm one of the few, lucky ones. The actors go out in 2011, and that's the end of the union. Good luck to their new "moderate" leadership.

[inbox1909]

If we really want to keep film production and the jobs they generate here in southern California, maybe we should start thinking about how to cut costs, not raise them. The teamsters union is a good place to start. Their bloated demands and mafia like organization has long made them untouchable. And for what? So that overweight guys in their fifties can park a truck, and spend the rest of the day at craft service? Teamsters are the equivalent of the Bell police chief.... grossly overpaid for what they actually do.

[Rocco]

YAY !!!

[Steve]

In this current economic times you are a moron to strike. There are tens of thousands unemployed people willing to take their jobs.

[MikeOHara]

Whew! Crisis averted! Because wherever would we find people skilled enough to drive equipment from North Hollywood to Sherman Oaks for a shoot, park, then let another union unload it?

[LA Transpo]

@ Schigolch: Film production is leaving California because other states are offering to pay to have productions come there. No matter where you film in the United States, you still have teamsters driving the equipment. Now you want to talk about underworked and overpaid, you should see what goes on in Boston, New York, Atlanta, Florida.......places where you have to have a man on every single piece of equipment wether or not its moving that day. Then the list of things they don't do vs what LA guys do, ie: picture vehicles, run generators, lay out base camp, clean trailers, help load and unload trucks. LA teamsters actually work with the producers to try and keep cost down. Back east the Teamsters work for the union trying to put as many guys on payroll as possible.

[Deskjob007]

This story needs a major correction: IATSE & Teamsters are NOT rivals. IATSE handles stage and production services; grip, painters, wardrobe, makeup, lighting, props, special effects, etc., Teamsters are transportation, any and all motor vehicles and office staff. It is true, the IATSE Motion Picture Locals received 3% , but IATSE Television & Theater got only 2%.

The two major organizations have work hand in hand for over a century, since the beginning of IATSE Local One started covering traveling road shows of early late 1800s. In addition, theater transportation of scenery, costumes, props, office equipment, paint, lighting equipment, sound, etc., for shows from warehouses & shops to stage and back again. Even from the docks for shows entering and leaving the country.

Until all the production locals; IATSE, Teamsters, IBEW, NABET, SAG, WGA, DGA, PGA Independents, etc., form a united front to the Major Producer's Alliance, the MPA will continue to dice and cut each local against each other, even when locals do not complete for each others jurisdiction.

News researchers need to get their facts correct the first time. Unfortunately, if news follows ABC News new business model, everyone is a reporter & expert without qualifications and mass room for error. Later corrections never really correct the problem because, once it is upon the waves of the Internet, lies become truth and each person bends it to their own opinion for their own agenda, devil don't care if it is misinformation.

Be leery of future news, it is going to be very scary.

[NY Transpo]

This to LA Transpo. The Transportation Coordinators own and rent they're own equipment. The East Coast Transpo Unions work to keep as many men working as possible, because we are about the MEN, not lining our own pockets renting out equipment and making our members expendable due to your personal greed. Keep working so closely to save Producers money, and they will keep taking they're productions wherever it's cheaper, because they too don't care about your men.

[Jim]

I agree with Christopher Redmond's comment. The Teamsters and the IATSE do not compete for any jurisdictional job class and therefore are not "rival" unions.

[FL Teamster]

Hey LA Transpo, inbox1909, O'hara

Get your facts right! As a movie driver for over twenty-five plus years and most of it in Florida, I do every single thing you mentioned in your post and more to help out when on set. I actually earn my money. I'm not fat or overweight. I frequently must run and or operate more than one vehicle or piece of equipment because in Florida coordinators don't put a man on every piece of equipment. I don't sit around all day doing nothing and eating craft service either because I'm always busy running crew members errands for them or covering their inept asses so the don't get thrown under the bus for something they shouldn't have forgot in the first place and by the way O'hara, I'm subjected to random drug testing all the time and all those people who do that unloading aren't. I don't know any Teamsters who drink or smoke dope on the job like some of our some of those other union members.