A group of U.S. visual effects professionals working on “Star Wars” franchise projects has joined the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees to engage in collective bargaining.
The newly formed bargaining unit consists of U.S. workers contributing to projects such as “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” “Ahsoka,” and “Starfighter,” among others. This unit, which strongly favored unionization, is set to begin negotiations in good faith for its inaugural contract.
IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb expressed, “These workers help bring some of the most ambitious stories in entertainment to life, and they deserve a meaningful voice in shaping their working conditions.” He further remarked, “We are proud to welcome these visual effects professionals into our proud union.”
Visual effects workers have been crucial to modern film and television production, crafting the worlds, characters, and experiences that captivate audiences. As the industry evolves, more visual effects workers are seeking the protections, benefits, and collective bargaining rights offered by union representation.
Last year, visual effects workers on “Avatar,” as well as those at Marvel and Disney, approved their first labor contract, marking a significant advancement for the VFX industry. These contracts provided standard union protections like overtime pay, eligibility for the Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plan, meal penalties, rest periods, and turnaround times. The Disney/Marvel contract also included salary increases of 4% in the first year and 3.5% in the second year, aligning with the raises negotiated by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.
VFX workers at Apple Studios also voted 12-0 to organize with IATSE, and employees at DNEG, a leading Canadian VFX firm, unionized in 2023 and 2024.
