DreamWorks Animation Production Staff Votes to Join Animation And Editors Guilds

DreamWorks Animation's production workers have made a significant decision to join their counterparts represented by the Animation Guild and the Motion Picture Editors Guild. Following an election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board, 94 production workers involved in television and feature film production at DreamWorks voted to become part of the two IATSE Locals, while 41 opposed unionisation.

Of the newly unionised 160 workers under IATSE, approximately a dozen will join the Motion Picture Editors Guild (Local 700), focusing on post-production roles.

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On the other hand, production staff with roles akin to artists, technical directors, and writers will join the Animation Guild (Local 839).  This move marks a pivotal moment in the industry, signifying the alignment of production workers with established guilds that advocate for fair working conditions and representation.

The ballot counting occurred solidifying the decision of DreamWorks Animation production workers to seek union representation. Steve Kaplan, a business representative for the Animation Guild, highlighted the longstanding relationship between DreamWorks and the guild, emphasising the studio's commitment to providing equitable working conditions to attract top talent.

With this addition, the Animation Guild now represents over 70 percent of production workers across major Hollywood studios, reflecting a growing trend towards unionisation and collective bargaining within the animation industry. 

The guild's determination to continue organising animation production workers underscores its dedication to securing improved working conditions and fair treatment for all industry professionals.

-Sushmita Sarkar