The Worldwide Alliance of Theatrical Stage Staff (IATSE) and Hollywood’s main studios have concluded their first week of talks Thursday night, with each events planning to renew negotiations for a brand new union contract on March 18.

The IATSE Fundamental Settlement Negotiating Committee, which represents IATSE, Teamsters 399 and the Hollywood Fundamental Crafts, proposed the brand new settlement to the Alliance of Movement Image and Tv Producers (AMPTP) on Monday. The AMPTP and IATSE’s committee buying and selling proposed amendments on the Hollywood Fundamental Settlement on Tuesday.

Subsequent week, starting March 11, is deliberate as a caucus week, the place each events will solely meet amongst themselves earlier than making a proper return to basic negotiations on March 18. Every of the 13 West Coast Studio Locals (together with IATSE Native 44, 80, 600, 695, 700, 705, 706, 728, 729, 800, 871, 884, and 892) are anticipated to fulfill with the AMPTP to debate “craft-specific points.” The union covers roughly 50,000 members.

IATSE, the Teamsters and the Hollywood Fundamental Crafts are collectively bargaining well being and pension advantages. The three then plan to barter separate agreements.

“Within the coming weeks, we’ll proceed to debate the specifics of those proposals and supply periodic updates on our exchanges,” IATSE worldwide vice chairman Mike Miller stated in a press release. “Within the meantime, our work continues.”

IATSE’s major focuses within the Hollywood Fundamental Settlement embrace wage will increase, enhanced contract enforcement and “high quality of life” facets to on-set working situations. On Thursday, the union’s committee additionally honed in on proposals so as to add protections towards rising applied sciences, together with AI.

IATSE’s present contract with the AMPTP expires July 31, that means the leisure trade might face one other strike if the 2 teams can not agree on an settlement within the coming months. Manufacturing has but to return to full power after the conclusion of final yr’s Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which impacted many below-the-line crew members now being lined by this spherical of negotiations.