UPDATED with statement from Hollywood unions and guilds: Casting assistants officially have union representation, after the group unanimously voted to organize under the Teamsters in a National Labor Relations Board election, the union said Monday.
Los Angeles Casting Assistants will be represented by Teamsters Local 399, and New York Casting Assistants will be represented by Teamsters Local 817. The union says 91 casting assistants submitted ballots in the election, and all voted in favor of union representation. However, the union also estimates that the group could grow to encompass 150-200 casting assistants.
The vote comes just before the Teamsters are set to begin negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on a new casting agreement August 26. The current contract expires September 30.
According to the union, casting assistants have expressed a need for higher wages, access to health benefits and job protections. No official priorities for the bargaining cycle have been set, as the Teamsters are still surveying members.
“This organizing win proves that Casting in both Los Angeles and New York is by Teamsters. I am proud of not only the Assistants in their fight to make improvements to their career and livelihood, but also our 399 and 817 members that stepped up to support this group in their fight,” Motion Picture Division Director Lindsay Dougherty said in a statement Monday. “Casting plays an integral role in every single production and often sets the foundation for any project. Our members’ hard work, creativity and expertise in their craft will drive our fight with the AMPTP for the pay, benefits and working conditions that are owed. “
The vote means that casting assistants will be represented in both the contract with the AMPTP as well as in negotiations with Netflix, which has its own casting director agreement through its production arm Storybuilders, LLC. The stipulated election agreement has allowed the Teamsters to simplify the process by encompassing all parties in a single vote.
Also on Monday, the Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839) began negotiations with the AMPTP. The group has said it intends to focus on protections against artificial intelligence, as well as unemployment due to outsourcing, layoffs and show cancellations.
On August 23, several Hollywood unions and guilds including SAG-AFTRA, WGA West and East and DGA issued a joint statement of unity with the Casting assistants. Read it here.
“The Guilds and Unions of Hollywood stand united with Teamster Casting Directors, Associate Casting Directors and the newly organized Casting Assistants as they seek fair compensation and improved working conditions across all classifications.
The Casting Department plays a critical role on any production, and work alongside many of our members to bring their creative visions to life. Casting professionals have championed our recent contract fights, and we now stand with them in their pursuit of a fair and equitable deal.
We call on the AMPTP to negotiate in good faith, make meaningful moves on their core priorities and respect the art and craft of Casting Teamsters.”
