The agreement between The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839 (TAG), and Walt Disney Animation Studios, overwhelmingly ratified, includes substantial pay raises ranging from 24-35% as well as pension and health benefits.
Two years after a supermajority first voted to unionize in a move initially met with studio leadership resistance, production management workers at Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) have officially ratified their first union contract with the studio.
That February 2023 organizing effort proceeded to a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) hearing, culminating in a decisive ruling on September 27, 2023 that affirmed the eligibility of full-time Production Coordinators, Production Supervisors, and Production Managers to unionize with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839 (TAG).
“It’s been an uphill journey, but at long last, we’ve reached the mountaintop,” says Production Coordinator Tamara Lee. “We are standing in our breakthrough - stronger, bolder, and united.”
Negotiations for the first contract began on April 11, 2024 and reached a tentative agreement on February 13, 2025. The agreement was overwhelmingly ratified by the unit (96% voter participation and ratified with 93% support), which is a sideletter to the existing WDAS collective bargaining agreement. Under this contract, production workers will now receive many of the same protections as their artistic counterparts, including pension and health benefits. Moreover, substantial wage increases to the minimums have been secured: a 24% increase for Production Managers, a 29% increase for Production Supervisors, and a 35% increase for Production Coordinators - the lowest-paid workers in the unit.
According to TAG Organizer Allison Smartt, “During this downturn in entertainment production, production management workers at one of the most powerful corporations in the world stood up and demanded more. Their daily fight for fair treatment and pay is often outside the public eye. They’ve been signing petitions, marching to deliver signatures, staging courageous silent protests in front of executives, and regularly engaging in the fight for their fair share for years, setting an inspiring example. They’ve won a historic contract that will have positive impacts long into the future and throughout the animation industry and I know they aren’t done yet.”
The Guild stated, “This victory is a testament to the unity, collective strength, patience, and endurance of WDAS production workers. WDAS production workers made history as the first feature film production management unit to unionize with TAG. Following this milestone, negotiations are currently underway with DreamWorks Animation for their first contract, marking the second time feature film production management workers have organized with TAG - this time including their television counterparts. We hope this contract will serve as a strong blueprint for these ongoing negotiations.”
Source: The Animation Guild
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
