The IATSE and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers have concluded their third week of negotiations for a new film and television contract covering the union’s 13 West Coast production locals, including its three national locals – the Cinematographers Guild, the Editors Guild and the Art Directors Guild. The current pact expires on July 31.

This is the third major film and television agreement that AMPTP has negotiated during the Covid-19 pandemic. An agreement with the WGA was reached last July and an agreement with SAG-AFTRA was reached a month later. The DGA obtained its agreement on March 5, 2020, a few days before the confinement.

Three years ago, the ratification of the current IATSE contract turned out to be one of the most controversial and controversial votes in the union’s history. It was ratified by a vote of 308-73 in a constituency-style system that allocates as many votes to each local according to the size of their membership. The 73 “no” votes were cast by the Editors Guild, the second-largest AI local, which has been critical of the deal for months. The other 12 locals at the IATSE west coast studio all voted to ratify the pact. Shortening the industry’s excessively long working days and funding the union’s pension and health plan were the hottest issues, and gains have been made in these areas.

At the time, IATSE International President Matthew Loeb called the deal a “big win for the skilled professionals who bring films to life,” saying it will generate $ 750 million in new salaries, inject $ 153 million in the union’s health plan will strengthen pension plans by creating a new source of revenue from new media, shortening the industry’s excessively long working days and improving safety.

But with nearly all of its members unemployed for months during the pandemic, those income projections will almost certainly be well below.