Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Apple Studios Visual Effects Workers Secure First IATSE Contract

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Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) members who work as visual effects (VFX) workers have successfully secured their first collective bargaining agreement with Apple Studios.

This victory is part of a larger industry organizing wave and follows first-contract gains secured by visual effects workers at Disney, Marvel, and on the movie “Avatar.” The contract establishes new standards for pay, health care benefits, retirement, working hours, artificial intelligence usage and workplace safety.

“For too long, visual effects workers have powered some of the industry’s biggest productions without the union protections afforded to many of their colleagues,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb in a press release. “It is long past time to fix that. By standing together, Apple Studios VFX workers have secured a strong first contract with enforceable standards, quality benefits, meaningful rest, and protections as new technology changes the industry.”