Latest in Labor

Facing staggering deficits, the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan is raising premiums and earnings thresholds for coverage come January 1. "While this restructuring will preserve access to an excellent health plan for the majority of our participants, the changes will be disruptive for some," the Plan said today in a letter to…

Bryan Lourd stepped out today from behind the CAA curtain to express both hope for a post-COVID-19 return of movies and the theater-going experience, and an agreement with the WGA over the contentious practice of packaging – if the Guild will pick up the phone. "I fully expect that at some point in the near future we…

UPDATE, with Disney World statement Walt Disney World and Actors’ Equity Association have reached an agreement over COVID-19 testing that will allow actors to return to work at the resort following a two-month stand-off. News of the agreement comes after Walt Disney World notified the union that it had taken steps to…

The U.S. Treasury Department has denied a request by the American Federation of Musicians and Employers' Pension Fund to reduce benefits for its participants in order to keep the "critical and declining" Fund from becoming insolvent within the next 20 years. Trustees of the Fund say they now will take another shot at…

Film and television production "is finally getting ready to start back up," IATSE Grips Local 80 business manager Thom Davis said in his latest update on the industry's efforts for a safe return to work. "The major lots have brought back people to get the departments ready for production,” he said, “and some of the…

The American Federation of Musicians has endorsed Joe Biden for president, making it the second entertainment industry union to throw its support to the former vice president. IATSE endorsed Biden for president in May. The AFM said its endorsement, reached by a unanimous vote of its International Executive board, is…

Labor leaders from five unions including Actors’ Equity Association today joined together to demand Senate action on the HEROES Act, calling the additional $600 in weekly pandemic unemployment benefits essential for food and shelter. On a telephone press conference led by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, leaders from…

The WGA on Wednesday provided details of its deal with ICM Partners on a new franchise agreement, a pact pretty much in line with one the guild inked last month with UTA. The deal that will also allow ICM to again represent WGA members for covered writing services also satisfies a clause that will end TV packaging by…

UPDATED, 12:06 PM: It’s a done deal. ICM Partners and the WGA just confirmed that the agency has signed a franchise agreement with the guild which will allow the agency to once again actively represent WGA members.    "We are looking forward to getting back to work for our writer clients," ICM Partners Co-President…

IATSE international president Matt Loeb today called on the Senate to scrap the Republican-backed HEALS Act and instead pass the House Democrats' HEROES Act. The Dems’ bill would extend the $600 weekly federal unemployment benefit through the end of the year for those left out of work by the pandemic, while the GOP…

More than 300 IATSE members, dissatisfied with what they call "a-la-carte protocols" for the safe return to work on commercials and music videos, have signed a letter urging their union leaders to adopt uniform guidelines similar to those established for film and television productions. "As of today, we do not have a…

EXCLUSIVE: More than 230,000 Californians employed in the arts, entertainment and recreation sectors have filed unemployment insurance claims since the coronavirus pandemic struck in mid-March, according to the state's Employment Development Department. This includes more than 65,000 industry workers in Los Angeles…