Nickelodeon Animation Studios recognizes Animation Guild as a negotiating agent for its production staff

Nickelodeon Animation Studios has agreed to voluntarily recognize The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839, as a bargaining agent for its production staff. Last month, a majority of the 177 production workers there voted in favor of unionization and voluntary recognition.

The guild and studio will now meet at the negotiating table to negotiate a contract. Those covered by a new contract include production managers, production coordinators, post-production assistants and production coordinators. The guild already has a collective agreement with Nickelodeon that covers more than 400 artists, including CG technicians, storyboard artists, character designers and writers.

Negotiation dates have not yet been set, the guild’s negotiating committee is now being expanded to include representatives from the production negotiating body.

“I am pleased that we were able to reach an agreement in which Nickelodeon Animation Studios recognizes both the determination of the animation production team and our long-standing, productive working relationship,” said Steve Kaplan, business representative for Local 839. “I look forward to negotiating a follow-on contract .”

In a statement, Brian Keane, EVP of Production and Operations at Nickelodeon Animation Studios, said the studio “supports its talented and dedicated production staff, who play an important role in the creation of our content. The studio’s affiliation with The Animation Guild spans many years and we look forward to reaching an agreement with the union that includes this new group of employees.”

The organizing committee, which led the campaign to unionize studio production workers, said it was “overwhelmingly pleased that Nickelodeon Animation Studios has decided to voluntarily recognize its production workers as members of The Animation Guild. With this the studio has shown that they are ready and willing to acknowledge the hard work, time and love we have put into our productions, we are delighted to work with them and our fellow artists to make a deal reach that repeatedly show their support for what we do.