Teamsters Casting Negotiations Pause Without Deal

Negotiations over a new contract for Teamsters-represented casting professionals paused on Friday without a deal, according to the union.

Bargaining sessions for around 700 casting workers based in Los Angeles and New York were originally set to conclude at the end of the week, but the parties did not resolve their remaining issues by that time. A Teamsters Local involved stated that additional bargaining sessions would be scheduled before the current contract expires on Sept. 30.

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Teamsters Locals 399 and 817 are negotiating on behalf of casting directors, associate casting directors and casting assistants in the discussions over a new three-year deal. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are representing major studios and streamers.

“After a week of bargaining, we have concluded negotiations for the day with no deal. It’s clear that the AMPTP will need more time to respect and compensate Los Angeles and New York Casting Professionals fairly,” the Teamsters Local 399 stated on Friday. “While today was our last scheduled date of negotiations, our Local 399 and 817 Agreement does not expire until September 30th. We will now look to schedule additional dates to continue to address our Casting Directors, Associate Casting Directors, and Casting Assistants core priorities to get closer to a deal that can be recommended by our member-led committees for ratification.”

The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to the AMPTP for comment.

The casting professionals are broadly seeking wage and compensation gains in this round of negotiations. Casting assistants, which the two Teamsters Locals unionized just this past month, sought to bargain their first contract terms on wages, working conditions and health and pension plan benefits.

In its Friday statement, Teamsters Local 399 said the group remained “united, strong and ready to keep up the fight.” The Local added, “We are grateful for the outpouring of support from Hollywood Labor over the past two weeks and will continue to engage this community to stand with Casting.”

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