Marvel Studios’ Visual Effects (VFX) workers have voted in favor of unionizing as a strike by writers and actors continues to hobble Hollywood.
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) said the VFX workers were unanimous in their vote in order to secure the same rights and protections as their unionized peers in the broader motion picture and television production industry. Their demands include fair pay for the hours they work, healthcare, a safe and sustainable working environment, and respect for the work they do.
"There could be no stronger statement highlighting the overwhelming need for us to continue our work and bring union protections and standards to all VFX workers across the industry," VFX organizer for IATSE Mark Patch said in a statement.
IATSE said the next step for the union is to engage in collective bargaining negotiations with Marvel to draft a contract addressing the needs of the represented workers. Both the union and the employer are obligated to negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement on these terms, it added.
Members of the Writers Guild of America union went on strike on May 2 over an ongoing labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Actors joined the picket lines in July.
NBC reported that there is still no end in sight for the strikes. Citing unnamed sources, it said the actors union hasn't heard from the studio since its members went on strike nearly two months ago and there is no imminent deal for the writers' union either.
Earlier this month, Warner Brothers Discovery cut its full-year earnings guidance due to the ongoing impact of the strike by writers and actors.