A group of American visual effects workers who work directly on the production of the Star Wars franchise has joined the United Theatrical Stage Employees International Union for the purpose of collective bargaining.
The new bargaining unit includes “
The Mandalorian & Grogu,” “Ahsoka,” and “Starfighter.” The force, which overwhelmingly supported joining the union, will now begin good faith negotiations with the employer for its first contract.
“These workers help bring some of the most ambitious stories in entertainment to life, and they deserve a meaningful voice in shaping their working conditions,” said Matthew D. Loeb, Chairman of IATSE International. Loeb added, “We are proud to welcome these visual effects experts to our proud union.”
Visual effects professionals have long been an integral part of modern film and television production, helping to create the worlds, characters, and experiences that audiences see on screen. As the industry continues to evolve, workers across visual effects are increasingly demanding the protections, benefits, and collective bargaining rights that come with union representation.
Last year, the visual effects staff of “Avatar” and those working at Marvel and Disney approved their first labor contracts, marking a significant step for the VFX industry. The contract included standard union protections such as overtime pay, eligibility for the Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Insurance Plan, meal penalties, rest breaks, and turnaround time. Disney and Marvel’s deal also includes a 4% raise in the first year and 3.5% in the second year, which is in line with raises negotiated by the International Union of Theatrical Stage Employees.
VFX workers at Apple Studios also voted 12-0 in favor of organizing into IATSE, and workers at DNEG, a major Canadian VFX company, also unionized in 2023 and 2024.
