Independent cinematography in Alabama has been accused of retaliation against the crew for union activities as they attempted to organize production.
“Addering,” starring Leighton Meester, has been filming in Mobile, Alabama for the past few weeks.
According to the International Union of Theatre Employees, the union is trying to overturn production, which began as non-union filming.
It is relatively common for IATSE to try and organize low-budget films in the middle of production, resulting in production paying union fees as well as pensions and health contributions. If production refuses to recognize IATSE, the union can instruct members to leave the set and establish a picket line.
IATSE claims that the production, led by BuzzFeed Studios, fired a crew member who wanted to organize.
“IATSE actively organizes this production and engages in union members, union support and/or protected collaborative activities, and has filed a claim for unfair labor practices related to employee discharge.” “We will continue to follow-up as long as employers reject union recognition and violate these workers’ rights to organize.”
BuzzFeed Studios denied violations of labor law in a statement.
“We are committed to maintaining fair labor standards and we expect the same from all the productions we are associated with,” a company spokesperson said. “In this case, I’m sure these standards are fully met.”
Crew Stories, the industry’s Facebook group, posted a message from New Orleans-based IATSE Local 478. This indicates that the production refused to negotiate a contract. The message advised the “adult” crew not to report work until the outcome of these discussions came out, but said there was no need to report it to the Pickett Line.
