Chicago, IL (October 27, 2021) — The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) expresses our solidarity with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) in their ongoing struggle for better working conditions.

Two weeks ago, members at 36 US-based IATSE Locals representing film and television workers — many of whom maintain joint membership in IWW — voted in overwhelming numbers to authorize the first nationwide strike in the union’s 128 year history.

After five months of negotiations between IATSE and the Hollywood employer’s cartel, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, deep grievances persist over wages and conditions for streaming, meal penalties, as well as weekly and daily rest periods.

In addition to bringing relief to tens of thousands of workers experiencing nationwide dissatisfaction and burnout, who have been quitting the industry in record numbers, IATSE stands to embolden other unions such as the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW).

“Many of the members in my Local have built up so much energy, stoked by years of miserable treatment on the job site and kindled by the possibility of real change through action,” says IATSE Local 481 member Devin Charette. “We want to go to work feeling like we played a real, physical role in re-shaping our working lives, giving it all we have so that we don’t wonder what could have been. If we seize the moment with courage and conviction, we can achieve a better deal on weekend rest, meal breaks, and abolish streaming media contracts, while emboldening thousands of workers in other industries to take action for better working conditions”