A group of post-production editors on Saturday night live plans to go on strike next month after failing to reach an agreement with NBCUniversal.
The roughly 20-strong team that edits the pre-filmed segments for the venerable late-night variety show negotiated with the studio through the Motion Picture Editors Guild, IATSE Local 700.
They plan to flee on April 1st. The issues surrounding wages and health benefits.
The guild submitted proposals to NBCU in December, and NBCU responded on January 13. However, the guild did not find the offer acceptable.
Workers threatened with strikes were the first to unionize under a card control agreement with NBCUniversal in October. An independent arbitrator confirmed that the majority of workers preferred union representation.
That’s what the Motion Picture Editors Guild said by SNL Editorial teams were paid “well below industry standards” and emphasized that assistant editors in particular were paid “only a fraction” of their union counterparts.
“The season is almost over. Not only is NBCU saying no to the union’s sensible proposals – by offering annual pay raises that don’t meet industry standards, they’re pushing for an agreement that ignores the rising cost of living and crews going back for years to come,” the famous Guild. “NBCU claims they want to reach an agreement as well. But we are nearing the end of the season and talks are ongoing.”
It added that the company “refused to show SNL’s postal staff the respect they deserve.”
“NBCU wants us to shut up – so we’re going to shout louder,” the guild said.
In recent weeks, a number of cast members have shown their solidarity with the group, including James Austin Johnson, who often appears as Donald Trump, in t-shirts that read “Contract Now.”
Source: Deadline
Joseph Fearn is an entertainment and television aficionado who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for what’s hot in the world of TV, Joseph keeps his readers informed about the latest trends and must-see shows.
