Disney Animation Workers to Hold Unionization Vote After Studio Refuses Voluntary Recognition

thewrap.com:

The Animation Guild, announced on Wednesday that it is organizing with approximately 80 production workers at Walt Disney Animation Studios and that a unionization vote with the National Labor Relations Board will be held after the studio refused to voluntarily recognize the union.The Animation Guild has had several successful unionization drives for animation production workers at several prominent studios, including Nickelodeon and Titmouse, as well as amongst workers on several high-profile animated TV series like “Rick & Morty.” Now it is turning its attention to Hollywood’s most prominent animation house, looking to organize production managers, supervisors and coordinators.

Like Nickelodeon, the Animation Guild already has an existing union contract with Disney that covers hundreds of animators in positions like storyboard artists, VFX supervisors and more.

The Guild now seeks to include production workers within that existing contract to allow them to gain higher wages and healthcare benefits.We need your help! #Disney refuses to recognize #animation production workers in their effort to #unionize.

Show your support and sign the petition at https://t.co/fkMiB37kSa#WDASProductionstrong #UnionStrong #ProductionStrong #AnimationGuild @IATSE pic.twitter.com/CCXh9E7VlSBut IATSE says that Disney has rejected voluntary recognition on the argument that production workers are in managerial roles and therefore cannot unionize.