Basic Crafts, Studios Are “Far Apart”

A Teamsters Local is warning that it and the Hollywood Basic Crafts labor coalition remain “far apart” from major studios and streamers on key issues in ongoing contract negotiations.

The remark came as part of a Teamsters Local 399 update on Friday night on the negotiations, which began on June 10 and are covering issues including wages, benefit plan funding, AI and staffing minimums. Local 399, otherwise known as the Hollywood Teamsters, is currently negotiating two deals for its members and another one as part of the five-union Hollywood Basic Crafts group. “After four weeks, we still remain far apart on our core priorities prior to entering our final week of negotiations to take place next week,” Local 399 stated in its update. “We have been extremely clear on the reasonableness of what we have brought to the table. Many of our proposals would cost the employers very little — and in some cases no money — but would be huge wins for our members.”

The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which bargains on behalf of major entertainment companies, for comment.

The last scheduled day of negotiations for the Teamsters and the Hollywood Basic Crafts is July 19, with current agreements set to expire on July 31. “We have informed the studios that while we can look to schedule more dates after the 19th, we will not be extending our agreements past the expiration date of July 31st,” Local 399 stated in its update.

The Hollywood Basic Crafts, which consists of Local 399, IBEW Local 40, LiUNA! Local 724, UA Local 78 and OPCMIA Local 755, represent around 8,000 workers, including drivers, location managers, electricians and plasterers.

So far, the Teamsters and the Hollywood Basic Crafts have struck a forceful tone when discussing their contract talks this year. In late June, the Hollywood Basic Crafts chairperson Lindsay Dougherty and four other leaders claimed that their employers were exhibiting a “lack of urgency” in the negotiations. In early July, Hollywood Basic Crafts said that their members “will not be the ones expected to balance the budget of the company’s poor business decisions over the last year.” Dougherty, who is the principal officer of Local 399, previously told THR in an interview that the group was looking to be “more aggressive” in this round of negotiations.

Local 399 asserted in its Friday update that its commitment to fighting for its key issues “should not be underestimated.” The Local added, “Our members are some of the lowest paid in production. If the employers want to talk about how much the Teamsters cost, we will continue to remind them how much Teamsters and the Hollywood Basic Crafts are worth.”