Amid the fallout from Tangent Animation’s abrupt closure last week, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) has stepped in to provide free legal support to those who lost their jobs.
The union’s main goal is to ensure that ex-employees receive their legally required severance payments. An estimated 400-odd workers were let go when the studio, which was based in Toronto and Winnipeg, announced that it was shutting down.
Said John Lewis, IATSE’s international vp and director of Canadian affairs, in a statement: “Animation workers are often required to negotiate on their own and often don’t have access to legal counsel. Our legal team will assist workers to ensure they are treated fairly.”