Production workers at Nickelodeon Studios have voted to unionize with The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839. According to the guild, 65% of the studio’s 177 production managers, production coordinators, postproduction assistants, art production coordinators and asset coordinators have signed cards saying they want to be represented by the guild.
The guild, however, says that Nickelodeon has declined to recognize the bargaining unit voluntarily. “Since voluntary recognition has not yet been reached, the production workers and The Animation Guild may be forced to file for a union election with the National Labor Review Board as early as next week,” the guild said.
Local 839 currently has a collective bargaining agreement with Nickelodeon that covers more than 400 artists, including CG technicians, storyboard artists, character designers and writers.
The guild’s negotiations committee says it believes that “one agreement should cover all animation workers at Nickelodeon, including the recently unionized production workers.
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