It's official: Over 50 in-house visual effects employees at Marvel Studios have unanimously voted “yes” to unionisation.
Last month, a report revealed that a group of on-set employees filed a petition for an election to be represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) with the National Labor Relations Board. The move came after multiple reports of VFX crews being pushed to meet unreasonable deadlines by Marvel Studios.
This marks the first time visual-effects workers have joined forces to demand the same rights, wage protections, and professional watchdog oversight enjoyed by professionals in almost every other part of the entertainment industry.
Roughly 18 VFX staffers at Walt Disney Pictures also voted for unionisation.
IATSE organizer Mark Patch says "the aim would be to have members of such a local work under the Basic Agreement contract already used by entertainment workers in 13 locals including the International Cinematographers Guild (Local 600), Motion Picture Editors Guild (Local 700) and Art Directors Guild (Local 800). The current Basic Agreement expires in 2024 and negotiations for a new contract are expected to begin next March."
For the most part, the VFX industry has remained non-union since the late 1970s, and IATSE considers this a major shift in the labor landscape.
“We are witnessing an unprecedented wave of solidarity that’s breaking down old barriers in the industry and proving we’re all in this fight together,” said IATSE International president Matthew D. Loeb in a previous statement. “That doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Entertainment workers everywhere are sticking up for each other’s rights; that’s what our movement is all about. I congratulate these workers on taking this important step and using their collective voice. I urge Marvel Studios to voluntarily recognize their union immediately.”
The vote follows several damning instances of anonymous VFX pros complaining about untenable working conditions, including long hours and seven-day work weeks. Back in March, Victoria Alonso, who oversaw VFX at the studio was fired - although her departure was said to be due to an unrelated issue.
These concerns, as well as unpaid overtime, credits, wages and retirement benefits are among the key issues identified by VFX workers that would like to see change.
Many fans have noted a drop in the quality of VFX in Marvel Studios projects over the past few years, and sources have claimed that this is a direct result of overworking to meet deadlines. With any luck, this union and Marvel's proposed "quality over quality" approach will yield improvements.