Remote workers at DreamWorks Animation have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement.
The agreement was ratified on Aug. 21, with 97 percent of participants voting in favor of the contract. Of the 108 eligible voters, 90 cast ballots, representing 83.3% of voter turnout.
Until recently, remote animation artists and technicians working on the same projects as their Los Angeles counterparts did not receive the same wage scales, benefits or protections.
Remote workers are now on parity with on-campus workers, including pension and healthcare coverage. The newly-ratified agreement gives the unit all the same protections offered in the IATSE Local 839 Master Agreement through a Sideletter.
Anthony Holden, DreamWorks Story Artist and member of the Negotiation Committee said, “This contract is a huge victory for DreamWorks remote artists, but also for the animation industry as a whole.” He added, “Our coworkers who work in-person at studios in L.A. enjoy mobility between employers with guaranteed benefits such as healthcare coverage and a pension plan. Many of us remote DreamWorkers have served for years (and in some cases decades) in the same industry without the same protections. Now we can work under the same terms as our union brothers and sisters. This contract represents an important shift towards broader industry change that values and respects not only artists’ skills but also our right to choose to live in locations around the country that are best for our families and personal circumstances.”
Under the agreement, remote working animators will receive the same healthcare and pension plans as on-campus workers, with $0 premiums for individuals.
In addtion, the agreement establishes the same minimum wage standards that apply under TAG’s MasterAgreement. The lowest-paid remote artist covered by the agreement will see compensation increase from $40.82 per hour to $62.22 per hour. This represents a 52.4% wage increase.
The unit includes remote workers across the U.S. doing work traditionally covered under TAG’s Master Agreement when performed in L.A. County, including Story Artists, Animators, Character Effects Artists, Technical Directors, Lighters, Visual Development Artists, Modelers, and Production Coordinators, among others.
Workers at Sony Pictures Animation also voted overwhelmingly on Aug. 27 to join TAG afterseeking voluntary recognition from the company. Sony declined the request and instead required workers to proceed through an NLRB election.
The results demonstrated strong support for union representation with 95% voter participation and 84% voting in favor of unionizing.
“Despite Sony’s deliberate attempts to challenge our movement, when the rubber hits the road, we’re all in favor of dignity and respect in the workplace.” says Grayson Arndt, Sr. Administrative Assistant. “Now it’s time to take our seat at the table.”
Production Coordinator Maddie Rodriguez added, “It’s exciting to follow in the footsteps of so many animation production workers before us and it’s continually heartening to know that we were never alone. So many of us have wanted this for so long. Together, we are Prod Strong!”