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Disney VFX Workers Make Major Move Towards Unionization

The 18 person in-house visual effects team at Walt Disney Studios has voted for unionization

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According to Variety, more than 80 percent of the team voted to unionize. The unionization efforts at Walt Disney Studios come amid accusations of poor working conditions for VFX artists. The news also comes a little more than a week after VFX artists at Marvel Studios began their own initiative to unionize and amid ongoing strikes by both the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). Those two groups have been pushing, among many things, for more equitable treatment in regards to pay and residuals, as well as limits on the usage of artificial intelligence in production.

In a statement, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) VFX organizer Mark Patch said, “Today, courageous Visual Effects workers at Walt Disney Pictures overcame the fear and silence that have kept our community from having a voice on the job for decades. With an overwhelming supermajority of these crews demanding an end to ‘the way VFX has always been,’ this is a clear sign that our campaign is not about one studio or corporation. It’s about VFX workers across the industry using the tools at our disposal to uplift ourselves and forge a better path forward.”

International President of IATSE Matthew D. Loeb noted, “Their collective action against the status quo represents a seismic shift in this critical moment in our industry.” He went on to say that the action sets “a precedent of dignity, respect, and fairness for all.”

In the coming weeks, the VFX artists at Walt Disney Studios will have a labor board election, which will determine whether the group will officially unionize.

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About the author

Liam Nolan
Liam Nolan is the Managing Editor of The Escapist. After getting his Master of Arts in English in 2016, he began writing about comics, television, movies, and video games, with his work appearing at such outlets as Marvel.com, CBR, and The Mary Sue. When he's not writing on pop culture, you can find Liam working on his creative projects or traveling. He's been with The Escapist since 2023. You can follow him on Twitter @LD_Nolan or on Bluesky @ldnolan.bsky.social.
    Liam Nolan
    Liam Nolan is the Managing Editor of The Escapist. After getting his Master of Arts in English in 2016, he began writing about comics, television, movies, and video games, with his work appearing at such outlets as Marvel.com, CBR, and The Mary Sue. When he's not writing on pop culture, you can find Liam working on his creative projects or traveling. He's been with The Escapist since 2023. You can follow him on Twitter @LD_Nolan or on Bluesky @ldnolan.bsky.social.

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