News
Oct 15, 2021

IATSE See’s Strike Solidarity Across the Pond. British Union BECTU of Below The Line Talent Leans on Full Support

That is correct the U.K. union is watching the minutes tick down as the IATSE strike looms on the Monday horizon, with no plans to replace any overseas IATSE members, Hollywood networks will be in a true pickle as they scramble for programming.

Image Credit: Cheyne Gateley/VIP+

Asking for livable, and safe working conditions shouldn’t be such a fight. We’ve been covering the ongoing IATSE strike possibility and now the UK is standing in solidarity with IATSE. While a dual strike doesn’t seen likely, it does seem the battle has just begun. We fully support all below the line workers to be adequatley compensated for their time. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees’ crew members working in the U.K. are preparing to down tools if the strike proceeds on October 18.Bectu, which represents the U.K.’s below-the-line workers, has confirmed it has received calls from heads of department (HODs) on U.K. productions asking about replacing IATSE workers in the U.K. The British union will advise members not to replace any striking IA members, said Spencer MacDonald, national secretary for the London production and regional production division of Bectu. 

“Some HODs have been contacted about replacing IA members in the U.K.,” said MacDonald. “It appears they can strike, so we will be sending out a note to all our members about not replacing striking IA members. Our members are fully behind IATSE.” However, he said it was unlikely Bectu would strike in solidarity as that would require both a trade dispute and a balloting of Bectu’s members, which hasn’t happened.

Affected productions will be those covered by either the Producer-IATSE Basic Agreement or IATSE’s Theatrical and Television Motion Picture Area Standards Agreement, whose crew are members of IATSE.

Among the signatories to either or both of those agreements are Warner Bros. Pictures, which is currently filming “Aquaman 2” and “Wonka” in the U.K.; Legendary Pictures, which is shooting “Enola Holmes 2”; and Lionsgate, which is filming “The Expendables.”

“Given the unprecedented nature of a potential nationwide film and TV worker strike, the full impact is difficult even for us to anticipate,” Jonas N. Loeb, communications director of IATSE’s New York branch told Variety. “We’re hoping the producers and studios continue working with us to make a deal that addresses core issues like reasonable rest periods, long hours, meal breaks and living wages so we are never forced to find out.”

IATSE is currently negotiating with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers ahead of a strike date on Oct. 18.

If negotiations falter, 60,000 union members will begin a nationwide, and potentially international — strike against the major studios that could bring the film and entertainment industry to its knees.

IATSE is asking for better hours and working conditions, including a turnaround time (the time between leaving set at night and returning the next morning) of 10 hours in order to prevent physical and mental harm resulting from exhaustion. Crew members have reported falling asleep at the wheel and even crashing their cars after spending long days and nights on set.

Bectu is currently negotiating its own trade agreements in the U.K., citing many similar issues. Depending on the triggered strike’s ongoing conditions, it is possible to see a dual strike across international territories as tensions rise.