Union Deal Increases Animation Salaries and Benefits
by Kirk Bangstad
kirk.bangstad@animationschoolreview.com
Animation School Review Columnist
Animators across the country have something to celebrate. The negotiation team for their union worked out a deal with animation producers that will increase their animation salaries and benefits over the next few years.
The Animation World Network, a website dedicated to the animation industry, recently reported that the union representing animators struck a good deal with animation producers. Negotiators for the Animation Guild and Affiliated Optical Electronic and Graphic Arts, Local 839 IATSE, otherwise known as TAG, unanimously recommended that the Guild accept the terms of the agreement. A spokesperson for the union mentioned that union negotiators went into meetings with animation producer representatives from Adelaide Productions, the Cartoon Network, Disney, Warner Bros. Animation, Columbia, DreamWorks, Fox, MGM, and Universal with goals to increase animation salaries and pensions, as well as employer health and pension contributions for free-lance animators. They apparently achieved these goals.
Animation Salaries to Increase with Employment Longevity
The current agreement seems to increase animation salaries at a greater rate the longer an animator is employed with a studio. Under the terms of the deal, animation workers are only guaranteed a $0.75 increase in the weekly wage minimums after the first year of employment, but receive a compounded 3% animation salary increase after the 2nd and 3rd years of employment. This animation salary increase is commensurate with the increases achieved by unions representing live action members.
If you’re an aspiring animator that has yet to do work for a major studio, this news should encourage you to keep trying to get your foot in the door. Before this agreement was reached, many young animators suffered without healthcare and other benefits while earning their reputations doing freelance work. Today, even if you still have to work for peanuts before getting a break, you at least have the opportunity to earn health care benefits and add a little money to your retirement pension.
Source
Animation Union Comes Out Ahead, Animation World Network
About the Author
Kirk Bangstad is a singer living in Chicago, IL. Having received his B.A. in Government at Harvard, Kirk previously worked as a management consultant.
