Disney animation workers vote to unionize just weeks after the historic decision by VFX workers. In early October, Disney’s visual effects workers joined forces with Marvel VFX employees for a first-of-its-kind union. The union would take the form of a VFX branch within the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
According to Variety, Disney animation workers have become the next Hollywood group to unionize with 93% of the Walt Disney Animation Studios employees who participated voting to unionize. The Disney worker will join the Animation Guild, which also exists under the IATSE.
The Animation Guild took to Twitter to celebrate this historic win for Disney employees. The post noted that the overwhelming majority voted in favor, writing that Disney Animation Studios employees “voted in an election to be represented by @IATSE and TAG. With 96% voter turnout, 93% voted yes!!!”
2023 Is a Historic Year For Workers’ Rights In Hollywood
Disney’s vote included all levels of animated production, from production coordinators to production managers. In joining the Animation Guild under the IATSE, the animators will have the same protection other industry employees, such as producers, actors, and writers have. This change is particularly welcome following the long-overdue VFX worker unionizing earlier this year. Given how the streaming service Disney+ is home to many new movies and TV shows, it makes sense for workers to unionize to protect them from poor working conditions as more and more content is produced.
The union effort is also notable in the larger context of this year in Hollywood. 2023 saw the concurrence of two of the highest-profile strikes in industry history: the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Though the WGA strike has been resolved, the SAG-AFTRA strike is still ongoing as the actors fight for fair compensation over three months in.
In a time when SAG-AFTRA has sparked copious opposition and faces constant studio obstacles, Disney‘s Animation Guild news shines an optimistic light. The battle for fair compensation is far from over on the wider-scale Hollywood level. What can be said, however, is change is coming industry-wide, even if that takes its time.
