Freelance casting assistants in New York and Los Angeles have unanimously voted to unionize with two Teamsters Locals.
In a National Labor Relations Board vote whose ballots were counted on Monday, 91 casting assistants employed by top studios supported unionizing with Teamsters Locals 399 and 817. The election took place between July 19 and Aug. 9, with the contest open to any casting assistants who had worked 15 days with a single major studio over the course of a year. Casting assistants employed on projects by Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producer member companies as well as Netflix, which has a separate casting contract with the Teamsters, were eligible to take part.
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The Teamsters have represented casting directors and associate casting directors in bargaining since 2006. Monday’s election now brings remaining members of the casting department into the fold.
“This organizing win proves that casting in both Los Angeles and New York is by Teamsters. I am proud of not only the assistants in their fight to make improvements to their career and livelihood but also our 399 and 817 members that stepped up to support this group in their fight,” Local 399 principal officer Lindsay Dougherty said in a statement.
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to the AMPTP for comment.
The Teamsters Local 399 estimates that the bargaining unit may ultimately include around 150-200 casting assistants. While the Teamsters first went public with their union drive in April, organizing had been ongoing for about eight months prior to that point.
According to the Local, the group is seeking to raise wages and establish a union health and pension plan by organizing. Casting assistants will soon have their chance to make these changes: The Teamsters are currently scheduled to head into bargaining on their casting contract with the AMPTP on August 26. That pact will now include casting assistants, Local 399 stated on Monday.
“Casting plays an integral role in every single production and often sets the foundation for any project,” Dougherty added. “Our members’ hard work, creativity and expertise in their craft will drive our fight with the AMPTP for the pay, benefits and working conditions that are owed.”
