The Animation Guild // #WeAre839

IATSE is ON STRIKE against CoComelon: The Melon Patch, a live-action spin-off of the union-made animated series. Rather than provide fair wages and benefits to the crew the producer is trying to hire scabs for the production that’s shooting in Sun Valley, Calif.

STATEMENT: Escalating Federal Immigration Enforcement Violence Threatens Constitutional Rights, Worker Safety The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) is outraged and gravely concerned by the killings of Minnesota workers and community members as part of recent federal immigration enforcement operations. These shootings by federal forces are the unsurprising result of an administration that uses militarized escalation as a public relations tactic. This moment demands immediate international attention, accountability, and a serious reassessment of practices that endanger the lives and constitutional rights of every person in this country. We will continue to stand with our Sisters, Brothers, and Kin in Minnesota and across the country in demanding liberty and justice for ALL. No one should face state violence or execution for going to work, helping a neighbor, or exercising their basic rights as Americans — and no one is above the law. We urgently call for a full and independent investigation into these unnecessary shootings, real accountability for those responsible, and immediate measures to deescalate.

The IATSE commends the reinstatement of Gwynne Wilcox to the National Labor Relations Board and welcomes the recent decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruling that President Trump’s removal was unlawful. IATSE members—and working people nationwide—rely on a fair and functional NLRB to enforce labor laws and ensure their collective bargaining agreements are upheld. We commend Member Wilcox for her dedication to this mission and for standing firm in the face of an unprecedented illegal removal. iatse.net/iatse-commends-rei…

Statement Regarding 2024 US Elections: ‘Solidarity Is Our Only Path Forward’ — “While this election did not deliver the outcomes we wanted, Union members and IATSE members did our part, and we should be proud of our efforts. Our union organized the most comprehensive electoral engagement campaign in our history, and union members across the country overwhelmingly supported pro-labor candidates and policies. Early returns show that union voters were one of the few groups that did not shift toward the President-elect and anti-worker forces — IATSE members held the line. Over the past 130 years, IATSE has seen wars, economic downturns, and hostile administrations come and go, and we will endure this as well. We will continue to relentlessly advocate for fair and just workplaces, and fight to provide security and prosperity for every worker in entertainment, regardless of the political climate. We will not waiver from this mission, and we will not back down. Make no mistake, over the next four years our union and our industry will face tremendous challenges. The next four years will be about defending against political attempts to dismantle the rights won over the last century, as well as defending against attempts to further slant the economy towards billionaires and international corporations at the expense of working class Americans. But now is not the time to be discouraged. Strength in numbers — union strength — is the best tool we have for defending our rights and collective well-being. If we can’t depend on our nation’s laws to ensure workers have access to fair pay, sustainable benefits, and workplace protections — then we must enshrine them in our contracts. Through collective bargaining, we can secure pay, benefits, and protections that corporate-backed policies may undermine. Solidarity is our only path forward.”

Across the country, union members have been hitting the streets to Get Out The Vote. Our strength is in our numbers—let’s bring that energy to the polls tomorrow! Find your polling place, bring a friend, and vote pro-labor candidates. #IATSEVotes

Reminder: Join us tomorrow at 2pm ET, to learn the history of voting rights in the U.S., current voter suppression efforts, and what you can do to protect this essential right. Register here: iatse.co/votingrightswebinar