Casting Directors Reach Tentative Agreement With Studios on New Contract

After eight days of negotiations, New York and Los Angeles-based casting directors reached a new tentative contract agreement with Hollywood studios and broadcasters, according to their unions.

The three-year tentative agreement was announced Friday by Teamsters Local 817 as well as Teamsters Local 399, which represents free agency professionals. “This afternoon Teamsters 399 and 817 officially reached a tentative agreement for our Local 399 and 817 Foundry Agreement. With AMPTP,” the union said. “The member-led negotiating committee fought to the bitter end for an interim agreement that was recommended for unanimous approval.” Details of the deal were not yet available.

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Hollywood Reporter He approached the Motion Picture and Television Producers Guild for comment.

The agreement will soon go to approximately 700 casting professionals, including casting directors, assistant casting directors and casting assistants, represented by the two Teamsters Locals, for a vote of approval. If the agreement is approved, it will enter into force.

The approval vote is scheduled to begin on Monday, following an informational meeting for union members about the agreement.

In this round of bargaining, the union sought to significantly increase its members’ wages. The first minimum wage rate in history increasing these rates for casting directors, increasing these rates for assistant casting directors, and negotiating annual wage increases for casting assistants. (Cast assistants joined the union The union also advocated for minimum employment contract length language for casting directors and negotiated health and retirement benefits for casting assistants.

Negotiations began on August 26 and stalled after the first week, with the union claiming AMPTP needed more time “to fairly respect and compensate Los Angeles and New York Casting Professionals.” Negotiations resumed on Monday and an additional date was added on Friday after the two sides failed to reach an agreement by Tuesday.

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