Home » US Employment News » Marvel Studios workers look to unionize as Hollywood strikes continue

Marvel Studios workers look to unionize as Hollywood strikes continue

By Nithya Bose in US Employment News, posted August 8, 2023

Marvel Studios' visual effects employees have begun unionizing, a significant turn for a sector historically devoid of guild representation.

Crew members at the superhero film and TV studio, owned by Disney, have filed for a union election.

A supermajority of the over 50-member visual effects crew at Marvel has endorsed unionization.

The union announced workers signed authorization cards indicating they want to be represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).

This move comes as the entertainment industry grapples with an upsurge of pro-labor sentiment.

SAG-AFTRA actors and Writers Guild of America screenwriters are striking for the first time in over six decades.

The move reflects growing labor concerns in Hollywood.

Mark Patch, VFX organizer for IATSE said: “For almost half a century, workers in the visual effects industry have been denied the same protections and benefits their coworkers and crewmates have relied upon since the beginning of the Hollywood film industry.

“This is a historic first step for VFX workers coming together with a collective voice demanding respect for the work we do.”

Workers already represented by IATSE include costume designers, hair and makeup artists, and script supervisors.

Marvel employees who support unionization have contributed to projects such as the series "Loki" and the forthcoming film "The Marvels," working across locations in New York and Atlanta.

Why are Marvel workers striking?

VFX workers have raised concerns about their lack of access to protections afforded to other unionized workers, including safeguards for working hours and overtime pay.

Amid the surging demand for digitally enhanced, big-budget productions in both streaming services and theaters, VFX employees contend with grueling work hours.

Marvel, in particular, has faced scrutiny for its alleged treatment of VFX workers.

IATSE said: “The move signals a major shift in an industry that has largely remained non-union since VFX was pioneered during production of the first Star Wars films in the 1970s.”

Need Career Advice? Get employment skills advice at all levels of your career

The National Labor Relations Board will take due diligence and set a union election date, enabling eligible workers to cast their votes on joining the union.

Marvel Studios has yet to provide a comment on the situation.

This announcement coincides with a landscape where multiple productions have halted due to strikes by film and TV actors and writers.

The WGA and SAG-AFTRA are advocating for increased streaming compensation and safeguards against the impact of artificial intelligence.

Follow us on YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.