Production Workers At Dreamworks Animation And Flying Bark’s U.S. Office Move Towards Unionizing

Production workers at Dreamworks Animation (DWA) and the U.S. satellite office of Flying Bark Productions are pushing to unionize with The Animation Guild (TAG).

The Guild says it is optimistic that both DWA and Flying Bark will voluntarily recognize the bargaining units. If not, the next step would be to petition the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to hold union elections.

TAG organizer Allison Smartt said of the two proposals:

The production Dreamworks and Barkers are the latest courageous groups to demand a seat at the table where decisions are made that affect their lives. They join production workers at almost every major animation studio in Los Angeles in their effort to preserve what made them seek out their dream jobs in the first place and to ensure transparency and dignity for all production animation workers in the U.S.

A letter asking for voluntary recognition was sent to DWA on February 7, and TAG filed for recognition with the NLRB by February 9. The proposed bargaining unit includes 162 production workers at the studio.

Rachel Carlson, assistant to the director/producer at Dreamworks Feature, explained:

It is an honor to work someplace with such a legacy, but legacy doesn’t pay the bills or protect us when the industry shifts. The people of the entertainment industry have relied on unions to fight for their best interests. Although we are not paid to be artists at DWA, we deserve the opportunity to be represented. Working under a corporation that has been valued at approximately $167 billion means that the people are not always the priority. Under TAG, we will have a direct link to those who are otherwise out of our reach and have our voice be heard.

TAG has also sent a letter to Australia-based Flying Bark demanding voluntary recognition. The union’s protections would only cover eight U.S.-based workers at the company’s Los Angeles-based satellite office. The group is currently working on an untitled Stranger things animated project on which all of the artists are already represented by TAG.

Flying Bark script coordinator Elise Bradley said:

As production staff, we were motivated to form a union with The Animation Guild because we deserve the same protections and benefits as our artist kin. We love working in animation and want it to be a career with security and longevity for us all!

Over the past three years, TAG has added nearly 1,200 production workers to its ranks, including employees at Walt Disney Animation Studios, Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network, Titmouse, Bento Box, and more.