Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk in “Avengers: Endgame.”
Disney | Marvel
Hollywood is currently experiencing two strikes, and now there are new union members.
The visual effects (VFX) workers at Marvel Studios have unanimously voted to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), according to an announcement on Wednesday. This is the first time that a unit consisting solely of VFX workers has joined the group.
In recent years, VFX artists have faced heavy workloads and tight deadlines while working on some of the biggest budget franchise films in the industry. This has created tension between the artists and the studios.
One studio in particular, Disney (which owns Marvel Studios), has required extensive special effects work in the past three years to complete a large slate of superhero films for both the big screen and the Disney+ streaming service. According to IATSE, the Marvel Studios VFX crew consists of over 50 workers.
“I grew up dreaming of working on Marvel films, so when I started my first job at Marvel, I felt like I couldn’t complain about the unpaid overtime, the lack of meal breaks, and the incredible pressure put on VFX teams to meet deadlines because I was just supposed to be grateful to be here at all,” said Sarah Kazuko Chow, a VFX coordinator at Marvel.
Representatives for Disney have not yet responded to CNBC’s request for comment.
The push for unionization comes amidst ongoing labor strikes in Hollywood involving writers and actors.
Similar to those on strike, Marvel’s VFX artists are seeking fair pay, healthcare, and “a safe and sustainable working environment,” said Mark Patch, the VFX organizer for IATSE.
Marvel’s VFX team is not the only one looking to unionize. In late August, VFX staff at Walt Disney Pictures filed with the National Labor Relations Board for an election to form a union.
Now that the vote is official, Marvel’s VFX workers will need to engage in collective bargaining negotiations with Marvel Studios executives to establish a contract. However, as the studio is already in talks with striking actors and has yet to address contract concerns, it may take time for the VFX artists to begin negotiations.
“Today’s count demonstrates the unprecedented demand for unionization across new sectors of the entertainment industry is very real,” said Matthew Loeb, the president of IATSE International.
IATSE represents 170,000 industry workers, including studio mechanics, wardrobe and makeup artists. In late 2021, the union negotiated a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers after authorizing a strike. The three-year contract includes measures such as a 10-hour turnaround between shifts, 54 hours of rest over the weekend, increased funding for health and pension plans, and a 3% rate increase each year for the contract’s duration. Strict penalties are also in place for failure to adhere to these break periods.
Loeb assured Marvel’s VFX artists that IATSE supports them, stating, “Your fight is our fight.”
Disclosure: Comcast, the parent company of NBCUniversal and CNBC, is a member of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The AMPTP is currently negotiating with striking writers and actors in Hollywood.
