Teamsters Ratify New Casting Agreement With AMPTP

Teamsters Locals 399 and 817 have ratified a new three-year casting agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

The deal received a 91.85% approval vote with an 83% voter turnout, the union said Wednesday. The agreement covers New York and Los Angeles casting directors, associate casting directors, and the newly organized casting assistants.

“Our Casting Teamsters have always been fighters. Since their original fight for representation in 2006 to now, this group continues to stand united and work collaboratively to understand how to better advocate for the art and craft of Casting, as well as the livelihood of those working in this career.” Lindsay Dougherty, Motion Picture Division Director, and lead negotiator. “I want to commend our member-led committee. They fought until the bitter end in these negotiations on behalf of all classifications, and this group has already begun laying a foundation for our next contract fight and the enforcement of their new agreement that lies ahead.”

The primary concerns for the union during this negotiation cycle were wage increases and protections, including establishing minimum rates for casting directors. It was also the first round of bargaining since casting assistants voted to join the union, and codifying annual wage increases for that group was among the Teamsters’ priorities as well.

The Teamsters secured all that and more, including additional benefit hours for associate casting directors and established pension and health benefits for casting assistants.

In a statement of its own, the AMPTP said Wednesday: “The AMPTP congratulates Teamsters Local 399 and Local 817 on the ratification of their agreement covering Casting Directors, Associate Casting Directors, and Casting Assistants. This agreement meaningfully addresses the unions’ top priorities, including establishing minimum salary rates for television Casting Directors and theatrical Casting Associates and adding Casting Assistants as a covered job classification under the agreement. The improvements in salary and wage rates included in this agreement ensure that studios can continue to attract and retain the premier creative talent that is the backbone of the motion picture industry.” 

The Teamsters announced Friday that there was a tentative new deal. Talks went a bit longer than expected, but after extending twice, they were able to cross the finish line before the previous contract expired on September 30.

This news of the Teamsters deal comes after the Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839) spent another week bargaining with the AMPTP from September 16 to 20. However, the union said in an update on Friday that there were “significant gaps” between the parties, prompting the negotiating committee to extend the current contract again — this time until Nov. 1 — to allow for talks to continue. Compensation, as well as artificial intelligence, are the biggest sticking points on that front.