Teamsters Union Warns of Tough Rhetoric Ahead in Studio Talks
variety.comGene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The Teamsters union told its Hollywood members on Wednesday that it expects to hear “fear mongering” from the studios over the next few weeks, in a sign that the two sides remain far apart in negotiations.
The union is bargaining on behalf of about 6,500 truck drivers, animal wranglers and location managers. Their contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers is due to expire on July 31.
IATSE, which represents about 65,000 crew members, got a tentative agreement last week, after three months of talks without any outward sign of hostility.
But in two updates to the membership, Teamsters Local 399 has made a couple of barbed comments about the studios. “We expect over the next several weeks to see the companies attempt to use fear mongering tactics against the reasonable terms and conditions our members are fighting for in these negotiations,” the union said Wednesday. “Our members will not be the ones expected to balance the budget of the company’s poor business decisions over the last year.” Teamsters Local 399 bargains alongside four smaller unions, collectively representing about 8,000 workers.
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