Casting Directors Union Negotiations: Sides Still “Far Apart”

After failing to reach a new deal on Tuesday, casting directors and Hollywood studios are planning to continue negotiating this week ahead of a Sept. 30 contract expiration date.

That’s according to a social media post from Teamsters Local 399, which along with Teamsters Local 817 represents a group of around 700 Los Angeles- and New York City-based casting directors, associate casting directors and casting assistants. “After a full day of discussions yesterday, we ultimately left the AMPTP around 1 am without a tentative agreement,” the Local stated in a social media post on Wednesday. “It is clear we will need more time to discuss with the Studios and Streamers, as we remain fair apart on fair compensation across all classifications.”

The union added that “the fight is notes over” and that dates and times for additional negotiations this week would soon be determined. “Our negotiating committee remains committed to reaching a tentative agreement that can be recommended for ratification prior to the Monday, September 30th contract expiration,” the union stated. “Our member-led team has been working around the clock to collaborate and advocate for our entire Los Angeles and New York Casting Professionals.”

The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers for comment.

Teamsters Locals 399 and 817 first began bargaining with the AMPTP on Aug. 26. After an initial week of talks, the group paused before picking up with two scheduled days of bargaining on Monday and Tuesday.

The Teamsters Locals, which bargain on behalf of around 700 casting directors, associate casting directors and casting assistants, has prioritized compensation for members in this round of bargaining. Negotiators have sought to secure minimum wage rates for casting directors due to alleged recent downward pressure on their wages. They also have pushed to meaningfully raise wages for associate casting directors and had to bargain a full slate of union wages and benefits for casting assistants, who unionized with the Teamsters just a two weeks ago to start the talks.

In an interview with THR that took place on Friday, Teamsters Local 817 casting director and negotiating committee member Bernie Telsey (The Gilded Age, In the Heights) expressed that Labor and management had made progress on casting assistant contract provisions so far. “It does feel like they (AMPTP negotiators) already acknowledge that the assistants are a major force and deserve to have health care, a pension and a place at the table,” he said.

But Telsey and two other casting directors continued to emphasize that casting professionals wanted to see changes to compensation practices. Said casting director and negotiating committee member Sherry Thomas (Breaking Bad, Barry), “We know where our boundaries are, and I think we are all willing to stand firm in those boundaries. “We know our worth.”