Animation Guild Secures Tentative Deal with Studios, Including AI Protections

Animation Guild Reaches Tentative Deal With Studios After Bargaining Over AI Guardrails and More - IGN

The Animation Guild touts some key wins, including in AI protections. After three months of bargaining over issues like artificial intelligence, wages, shrinking crews, and more, The Animation Guild has reached a tentative agreement for a new three-year contract with the group that represents Hollywood's studios, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Negotiations initially began on August 12 between TAG and the AMPTP, although the two organizations did not come to an agreement in the five days allotted for bargaining. Negotiations resumed on September 16, with the tentative agreement being reached on Saturday morning and announced on Monday, per a email from TAG sent to guild members. Among the issues that TAG touts gains in are stronger AI guardrails, including consultation and notification provisions; health and pension fund improvements; wage increases; protections for remote work; additional sick days; and the recognition of Juneteenth as a holiday. They also note "craft-specific gains," including staffing minimums for writers rooms. A tentative agreement between TAG and the AMPTP is a massive step forward, but it doesn't mean the new contract is set in stone quite yet. The next step will be a ratification vote by the members, which is currently being scheduled. While there were many issues at play, getting stricter protections for generative AI was a major one for this round of negotiations, something that also played a large role in last year's writers' and actors' strikes and the ongoing video game actor strike. IGN ran a comprehensive report last year about how it's become a hot-button topic in the animation industry specifically, with some believing the technology could make their work more efficient and others arguing it's not worth risking jobs or artistic integrity. "After weeks of negotiations that covered months in the calendar, I am very proud of the agreement that we reached with the studios for our new contract," said Steve Kaplan, TAG Business Representative, said in a statement. "Not only have we seen the inclusion of the advancements in the industry realized by the other Unions and Guilds, but we were able to address industry-specific issues in a meaningful way. The animation industry at large has been facing issues like crunch, layoffs, and low pay for years now, spawning an entire #StandWithAnimation movement. For more, check out our report about the tumultuous making of Inside Out 2.

The Animation Guild Reaches Tentative Deal With Studios

Son of Murder Victim Portrayed in 'Say Nothing' Criticizes "Horrendous" Series The future of animation work in the AI era is beginning to take shape. Following a high-stakes negotiation that stalled due to a fierce battle over the burgeoning technology, the Animation Guild has reached a tentative deal with studios and streamers over a new three-year contract for members in the L.A. area. The deal was reached on Friday, according to the union. The provisional deal includes AI language that "includes notification and consultation provisions," according to the union. The deal also allows a 7 percent general wage increase in the first year of the contract, a 4 percent wage increase in the second year and 3.5 bump in the third and language that allows for remote work. The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers for comment. Guild negotiators have been clear that, from their point of view, these contract negotiations were primarily a fight over AI. In a survey of media leaders that was released in January, an economic consulting firm commissioned by the Animation Guild found that 29 percent of animation jobs could potentially be disrupted by AI within the next three years alone. In a separate report, released days before the union resumed contract negotiations, a union task force argued that entry-level positions will be most at risk of displacement in the next few years even as AI applications and programs "can target most of the job categories of TAG members." The union, which represents more than 5,000 animation workers in collective bargaining, entered negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on August 12. Besides the top issue for the union for the union -- instituting guardrails on generative AI -- the labor group also sought to fight the outsourcing of work originating at L.A.-area studios to other countries. In a union rally in Burbank on August 10, union leaders argued that this round of negotiations will set the tone for animation for years to come. "This really, for us, feels like a do-or-die negotiation cycle," negotiating committee member and writer Joey Clift said. Added writer Julie Prescott, "The American animation industry is at stake and the drawing kid from your childhood is not going down without a fight." In recent weeks, the labor group has taken the fight to the doorsteps of major companies, demonstrating at the offices of Netflix, DreamWorks Animation and Warner Bros. Animation. While there, workers delivered a petition citing recent financial struggles for animation workers and calling for a "fair deal" with "livable wages and job security."

Animation Guild reaches tentative deal with Hollywood studios

By Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times The Tribune Content Agency LOS ANGELES - The union that represents animators has reached a new contract deal with the major Hollywood studios after more than three months of bargaining, securing pay increases and artificial intelligence protections. The Animation Guild, aka IATSE Local 839, secured a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers early Saturday, the union said Monday. The AMPTP represents the studios in labor relations. The proposed contract now goes to the guild's membership for ratification. Negotiations began in August for a new contract that would increase wages, address the shrinking of crews and establish protections against AI, which many animators see as an existential threat to their craft. Studios are eager to save money amid an industry contraction, and AI tools in animation and special effects offer some obvious opportunities to do so. The talks took place in a climate of increasing angst among entertainment industry workers who are contending with the studio cost-cutting, consolidation and the outsourcing of production. An agreement was not reached within the initial five days allotted for bargaining. Negotiations resumed in September, and a deal was locked in after 16 nonconsecutive days of talks. The guild touted several gains in the three-year deal, including increases to health and pension funds and wage increases of 7% in the first year, 4% in the second and 3.5% in the third. The pact features AI protections that include notification and consultation provisions; protections for remote work; and the recognition of Juneteenth as a holiday. "After weeks of negotiations that covered months in the calendar, I am very proud of the agreement that we reached with the studios for our new contract," Steve Kaplan, business representative for the Animation Guild, said in a statement. "Not only have we seen the inclusion of the advancements in the industry realized by the other Unions and Guilds, but we were able to address industry-specific issues in a meaningful way." The Animation Guild was founded in 1952 and represents more than 5,000 artists, technicians, writers and production workers in the animation industry. _______