DreamWorks Remote Workers, Netflix Animation Production Staff, And ‘Ted’ Crew Vote To Unionize

Happy New Year indeed. Animation workers at DreamWorks Animation, Netflix Animation Studios, and the hybrid series Ted have voted to unionize in three separate National Labor Relations Board elections held in late December, marking the latest significant expansion of organized labor across the animation industry.

Remote workers at DreamWorks Animation voted to unionize with The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839), while feature production workers at Netflix Animation Studios also opted for TAG representation. Production workers on Ted voted to unionize with The Editors Guild (IATSE Local 700).

The DreamWorks Animation election, held on December 23, resulted in a majority “yes” vote. The studio will formally recognize the remote bargaining unit and begin negotiating its first contract. The newly recognized unit includes remote workers living across the United States who contribute to L.A.–based feature and television projects.

Remote DreamWorks workers organized in response to longstanding inequities between remote and on-campus employees, particularly around pay, benefits, and working conditions.

Anthony Holden, a remote story artist and organizing committee member based in Washington State, explained in a release:

I’ve valued the opportunity to help unite our voices in seeking equality with our on-campus counterparts in terms of workers’ rights, fair pay, access to healthcare and retirement benefits, among other issues. We look forward to negotiating with the company to secure a fair agreement that will foster a workplace environment which is equitable to remote employees and will contribute to DreamWorks’ commercial and artistic success.

Two additional union elections followed days later. Production workers on Ted voted on December 23, and feature production workers at Netflix Animation Studios voted to unionize on December 30.

According to Netflix production coordinator Erin Sullivan:

During my five years at NAS, my amazing production colleagues have shown up each day with diligence, passion, and a breadth of skills and experience both creative and strategic. As a part of TAG, I’m excited for the opportunity we now have to represent ourselves as a unit, and I’m encouraged by the other production management teams in our industry who have set the bar.

The Animation Guild described the three elections as part of a broader effort to organize animation workers across job classifications and work arrangements, including remote labor that expanded rapidly during the pandemic.

TAG business representative Steve Kaplan said:

These units overwhelmingly voted in favor of TAG representation after facing the degrading process of being forced into an NLRB election and the unnecessary delay of the government shutdown. We are continuing to expand our jurisdiction both inside and outside the scope of our Master Agreement as we continue to look forward to protecting the rights of all animation workers regardless of zip code.

Founded in 1952, The Animation Guild represents more than 5,000 artists, technicians, writers, and production workers in the animation industry.