"Is Pixar Going Union?"

The above is a question I've gotten a LOT in the past few weeks (ever since the announcement of Pixar's merger with Disney.) Putting aside that Pixar won't be officially merged with the Mouse House until Pixar's stockholders have approved the deal, I always answer that particular inquiry promptly and fully. I say, "I don't know." The reason I don't know? Pixar is (or will be) a subsidiary of Disney up in Emeryville, and there may not be any legal requirement for them to, all of a sudden, sign a labor agreement. Of course, there could be compelling strategic reasons for Disney to want its new animation company under a collective bargaining agreement, but that's something for Disney to decide.