Negotiations

... between the AMPTP and local IATSE unions/guilds started today. The larger "Basic Agreement" talks between the International and the Alliance commence a couple of weeks hence. ...

The largest union representing Hollywood's technical workers has begun contract negotiations with the major studios amid concerns that rising healthcare costs could lead to cuts in health and pension benefits for below-the-line crew members. ...

IATSE and the Teamsters face a large deficit in their health and pension plans -- projected to be at least $300 million over the next three years. ... How to close that gap will be a major focus of the negotiations -- as it was for contract talks with talent unions that received increases in employer contributions to their plans. ...

There's been a lot of buzz about the producers' proposals -- which were delivered into union hands some days ago -- and how the negotiations will ultimately shake out. Nobody thinks this is going to be a walk through Springtime rose gardens. As one of the staffers of a large IA unions said to me last week: "Our business representative has steam coming out of his ears."

By the end of the month, we'll have some idea about the future of the health and pension plans over the next three years. I plan to attend the festivities* at the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers at the end of the month. I've no doubt it will be interesting.

* The negotiations for wages and benefits under the Motion Picture Industry Health and Pension Plan.