Visual effects (VFX) crews employed by Marvel Studios have voted “unanimously” to unionize with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), courtesy of a report by ComicBook. The IATSE represents more than 168,000 individuals working across a range of technical and artistic sectors within the film and television industry.
“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,” Mark Patch, the VFX organizer for IATSE, shared in a statement yesterday (September 13).
“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!’”
BREAKING: Marvel Studios’ Visual Effects (VFX) Workers UNANIMOUSLY voted in favor of unionizing with IATSE in a labor board election.
This marks the first time a unit of solely VFX Workers has unionized with IATSE since VFX was pioneered nearly a half-century ago. pic.twitter.com/gqMx2dIQj3
— IATSE // #IASolidarity (@IATSE) September 13, 2023
The decision to unionize marks “the first time that a unit of solely VFX workers has unionized with IATSE since VFX was pioneered nearly a half-century ago.”
The international president of IATSE, Matthew D. Loeb, recently described the vote as “an unprecedented wave of solidarity that’s breaking down old barriers in the industry and proving we’re all in this fight together. 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.”
