Thread by @athurlow

Some of you may be aware that the IA and AMPTP are resuming negotiations July 6th. In light of this I'd like to share a THREAD about what we are working to get the AMPTP to acknowledge. #IASolidarity #PayUpHollywood #Local871

871 Represents a variety of crafts from Writers Assistant and Script Coordinator to Script Supervisors, APOCs, Art Department Coordinators and even Teleprompters. We are mostly female and our #ReelEquity study found we are paid much less than men comparable crafts.

.@IATSE believes that no union member should make less than a living wage, but currently four 871 crafts' (Writers Assistants/Script Coordinators/APOCs/Art Dept. Coordinators) base rates FOR A 52 WEEK YEAR fall below the LA Dept. of Housing's low income threshold.

And of course, most of these jobs are freelance meaning that on average our members work 26 weeks of the year putting most members at Very Low Income (39k) or Extremely Low Income (23k). These numbers can be found here: hcd.ca.gov/grants-funding…

Over 55% of surveyed members at the local reported being rent burdened or spending more than 30% of their income on rent. Unsurprisingly 53% of members work a second job on top of everything to make ends meet.

None of the jobs represented by @Local871 are entry level but the average rates are as follows: WA: $15, SC: $17, APOC $22, ADC $24. By comparison mailroom workers at the big four make $24/hr.

These rates have major effects on our members and the industry as a whole. It's popular right now to want to champion diversity, but there is so much data to reflect that bad pay = fewer opportunities for diverse folks who don't benefit from the economics of white privilege.

These jobs are stepping stones to higher positions and department heads, but the low pay creates a gulf between those who can afford to work them and those who can't. And that group is unsurprisingly largely white.

On a member level, the lack of pay means living with roommates into your 30s (hi its me), putting off marriage or children, major purchases like a reliable car in a city that's on the road, and a whole lot of added stress that probably is all killing us slowly.

The IA is standing behind 871 with its full force and asking that all of our thousands of IA members from grips to DPs to prop masters and editors continue to stand together to bring up wages. Witnessing #IASolidarity has been incredible and I'm so grateful to be #UnionProud.

Unsurprisingly, talks have stalled in the wage department despite the fact that this year the studios have all come out with statements in support of diversity. If they really cared, they'd raise these base rates and also acknowledge the massive gender pay gap in these positions.

Studios continued to make massive profits this year DESPITE the pandemic. Their costs went up to secure health and safety, but their profits didn't drop. Hollywood has incredible wealth and they are exploiting workers with unnecessarily low pay.

We are also far apart on quality of life resolutions that affect the health and safety of our members. Sets already are ableist environments and the IA is pushing for proposals that would make sets more inclusive and generally a better, healthier place to work.

The AMPTP may only care about their bottom line, but the IA cares about people. I'm so proud to stand with thousands of other IA union members in asking for real change in Hollywood from diversity and culture to health and safety. I stand with the IA in #IASolidarity.