Disney Production Workers March at Burbank Lot With Animation Guild to Demand Unionization

thewrap.com:

Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839) staged what it called a “solidarity walk” around Walt Disney Studios in Burbank with dozens of the studio’s animation production workers in protest of Disney’s refusal to voluntarily recognize its unionization efforts.

More than 100 animation workers and artists gathered in front of the Roy E. Disney Animation Building for a rally and marched along the streets adjacent to the studio before presenting Disney’s labor relations counsel Mark Stubbington with a petition signed by over 10,000 animators calling on Disney to recognize its production workers’ wishes to be included as part of the Disney Animation bargaining unit and to receive the benefits of its labor contract, which include higher wages and healthcare. “This is a historic day where The Animation Guild members are backing a group of people who are seeking to gain voluntary recognition from the company.

It’s disappointing that the company is putting us in a position to have to justify what they’ve already provided other managers and supervisors across the entertainment industry.

I’m proud to be able to stand with the group today to show that there is a majority of support for representation,” said Animation Guild business representative Steve KaplanLast month, Disney denied voluntary recognition, arguing that production workers are classified as management and therefore cannot unionize.