Revolutionizing the Animation Industry: Disney VFX Workers Unite to Demand Fair Treatment & Improved Working Conditions

Summary

Disney VFX workers have voted to unionize following allegations of mistreatment and overworking, setting an industry-changing precedent.

The recent unionization of Marvel VFX workers has sparked a chain reaction, with visual effects teams at Walt Disney now joining in. More than 80 percent of the in-house VFX crew members at Walt Disney Pictures have shown their support for unionization by signing authorization cards, marking a significant progress in their efforts.

Disney VFX workers, following allegations of mistreatment, have voted to unionize in the wake of industry-wide concerns about overworking. The unionization vote took place among VFX workers at Marvel Studios, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios. These workers, responsible for the creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and TV shows, have accused the studio of mistreatment and excessive work demands. This move to unionize was anticipated to have a significant impact on the industry, and its effects are already being seen.

In a recent development, visual effects crews at Walt Disney are now following suit, joining the call for unionization. According to Variety, the Disney VFX workers have taken a substantial step forward in this process by submitting their request to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). A supermajority of the 18 in-house VFX crew members at Walt Disney Pictures, totaling over 80 percent, have signed authorization cards expressing their desire to unionize. Both Mark Patch, the IATSE VFX organizer, and Matthew D. Loeb, the International President of IATSE, have issued statements on this matter.

Patch: Today, brave workers in the Visual Effects field at Walt Disney Pictures have triumphed over their fears and silence, allowing our community to finally have a voice in the workplace after many years. A vast majority of these crews have demanded an end to the traditional ways of the VFX industry, signaling that our movement goes beyond a single studio or corporation. It represents VFX workers throughout the entire industry utilizing the resources available to us in order to improve our situation and pave a brighter future.

Loeb: Not only is the determination shown by these VFX workers praiseworthy, but it is also revolutionary. Their collective action against the status quo is a monumental shift occurring at a critical moment in our industry. The unprecedented number of voices calling for change shows that our movement is not limited to any specific company, but rather aims to set a precedent of dignity, respect, and fairness for all.

More to come...

Source: Variety