Hollywood’s backstage union workers have voted overwhelmingly to authorize an industry-wide strike.
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) said 90% of eligible voters cast ballots over the weekend, with more than 98% supporting strike authorization.
“The members have spoken loud and clear,” Matthew Loeb, president of IATSE, said in a statement Monday. “This vote is about the quality of life as well as the health and safety of those who work in the film and television industry. Our people have basic human needs like time for meal breaks, adequate sleep, and a weekend. For those at the bottom of the pay scale, they deserve nothing less than a living wage.”
The vote comes after months of failed negotiations between the union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents major film and television production companies.
