Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, More Hollywood Union Members Sign Letter Of Solidarity Urging AMPTP To Bargain “Fair Contract” With IATSE, Basic Crafts
deadline.comEXCLUSIVE: Members of the Hollywood guilds are throwing their weight behind IATSE and the Basic Crafts as the below-the-line unions continue to chip away at new three-year deals with the studios.
Deadline has obtained a letter of solidarity signed by nearly 400 members across the WGA, PGA, DGA and SAG-AFTRA. Signatories include Alan Ritchson, Amy Schumer, Lily Waschowski, Boots Riley, Connie Britton, Chelsea Handler, Mark Ruffalo, Lamorne Morris, Gina Prince Bythwood, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Charlie Kaufman, Kerry Washington, Quinta Brunson, Natasha Lyonne, Ryan Coogler, Will Forte, and Sarah Polley.
The letter, addressed directly to the Alliance of Motion Picture Television Producers, urges the Carol Lombardini-led group to give the unions “a fair contract that acknowledges their essential contributions to production and allows these behind-the-scenes artists, artisans, and craftspeople to live and retire with dignity.” “We support their requests for protectionists from emerging tech and AI, wage increases commensurate with cost of living increases, increased residuals and diversified contributions to their health and pension funds,” the letter continues. “These crewmembers dedicate their lives to their artistry and to their departments – working long hours in often challenging conditions to bring stories to life.
Being able to do their jobs safely and compensated fairly is essential for our membership to be able to do our jobs. ‘Nothing moves without the crew.'” The letter, which Deadline understands was conceived and circulated by a mutual aid group formed during last year’s strikes called The Union Solidarity Committee, also acknowledges the “sacrifices” that below-the-line crew made during the work stoppages,
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