The Virginia-based studio's workers file with the National Labor Relations Board and seek representation by The Animation Guild.
11 dedicated animation workers, including scriptwriters, video editors, production assistants, and managers, at Whiteboard Geeks in Virginia filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to form a union and be represented by The Animation Guild (TAG), IATSE Local 839. According to TAG, this marks the group’s first step toward improving workplace conditions and securing fair wages. This is the fourth state/territory where animation workers will be represented by TAG, following New York, Texas, and Puerto Rico.
“We have already come together to declare our intentions and are determined to see our strength recognized at the bargaining table,” said scriptwriter Phillip Hilliker. “As the first animation union in Virginia, we hope this action will not only improve the working conditions at WBG, but also help set a new, sustainable path for creatives across the Commonwealth.”
“Calling for a union is and has always been about uplifting workers' voices and working in tandem to make the entire company better, inside and out,” added video editor Z Wang. “Whiteboard Geeks cannot grow and thrive in a healthy manner if we are each suffering over it individually, so I am seeking to not only create better conditions we have all been asking for but to also protect the environment that formed my affection for this company in the first place.”
The group’s decision to unionize follows a broader trend, which has seen an increasing number of nationwide animation workers seek representation to advocate for their rights and interests. This step in Virginia coincides with an ongoing NLRB election for production workers at Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Source: The Animation Guild
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
