Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Castlevania Studio Animation Workers Ratify First Union Contract

Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Animation workers at Powerhouse Animation Studios in Texas overwhelmingly voted to ratify their first union contract, with 96% of members voting to approve the agreement. Details of the contract were not immediately available. The more than 100 workers produce games like Castlevania and include both production workers and artists at the studio, folding in roles such as animator, background designer and production assistant.

“This is one of the strongest agreements we have been able to negotiate, and the crew’s resolve to their priority issues is the reason,” said Steve Kaplan, business representative of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 839. “I also want to acknowledge the work Powerhouse and its leadership team put in. We all had to be flexible to get to the finish line, and they showed their commitment to being a productive partner with the Union in the negotiations.”