Marvel Studios’ visual effects workers have voted unanimously to unionize with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
The unit announced its unionization vote on Wednesday. Last month, 50 VFX employees from Marvel Studios filed for a union election at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to be represented by the IATSE, and votes were cast and collected between Aug. 21 and Sept. 11. When votes were counted yesterday, all were in favor of unionizing while none of them went against. This marks the first time an in-house unit of solely VFX workers has ever unionized with the IATSE.
“Today, VFX workers at Marvel Studios spoke with a unanimous, collective voice, demanding fair pay for the hours they work, healthcare, a safe and sustainable working environment, and respect for the work they do,” IATSE’s VFX organizer Mark Patch said in a statement. “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. And there could be no stronger example of the courage and solidarity of these workers than each and every one of them declaring ‘union YES!’”
“There could be no stronger example of the courage and solidarity of these workers than each and every one of them declaring ‘union YES!’
The historic vote comes after years of crunch, low pay, and altogether unsustainable working conditions VFX workers reported facing during the production of various films and TV shows made at Marvel Studios, including WandaVision, Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantamania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and She-Hulk. VFX workers reported 18-hour workdays, strict turnarounds, and working through meal breaks.
The vote also comes amid continuous strikes from the WGA and SAG-AFTRA that have ground Hollywood to a halt. Both unions are also demanding better pay and improved working conditions from the studios they work with. Drew Barrymore recently came under fire for being one of several daytime talk shows to resume her production show without her writers, despite her insistence that her show was in compliance with the WGA strike by not discussing or promoting struck films or TV series.
Cristina Alexander is a freelance writer for IGN. To paraphrase Calvin Harris, she wears her love for Sonic the Hedgehog on her sleeve like a big deal. Follow her on Twitter @SonicPrincess15.
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