Feedback

Tag cloud

What's your question?

By: [ Admin ] Asked from India

Do any VFX people belong to a union?

Is there a union vfx people can join, and more importantly is it worth joining? I mean, would it have any weight to get you paid up if you got ripped off? I heard of IATSE, does anyone join that?

Add comment viewed 997 times Latest activity 7 months ago

NN comments
or Cancel

6 answers

  • 3

chris.desanto

Currently there is a push from VES and the AICP to form a new mentality in a Union for VFX workers of all fields.

AICP Digital aims to look at the global issues effecting all members of the VFX industry on a global level and not a chapter/regional level. This seems to be the most forward moving and progressive choice for us as a way to help normalize our industry and rights. The people leading the way seem to be (in no order) Jeff Okun, Ed Ulbrich and Eric Roth.

Here are a few links with more information.

FXGuide Podcast: Interview with Ed Ulbrich:

http://www.fxguide.com/modules/fxpodcast/files/fxg-091113-2012.mp3

Some Articles:

While there is no website for it individually, the main site for AICP is here:

------ And for those of you not familiar with FXGuide, Make it a daily/weekly stop. Lots of fantastic information and industry news!

NN comments
julian
-
and paddy – thanks for the links. A global level eh? – makes sense as so many artists are nomadic, but more complicated to administer and to be effective I would think.

chris.desanto
-

This is what they are trying to address currently. They realize they make a pro vfx contract we can not walk in and get it signed (comment from Ed on the FXguide podcast) but it can at least be a starting point for a negotiation on the terms of the contract they want to use. They are trying to focus on issues that are global to the VFX industry but outside of regional issues (state laws for examaple in the USA). I understood they would be looking global maybe they were meaning for the entire US only though? Though I thought the AICP was international maybe it is not.

or Cancel
  • 1

andrew_94

For people working in the UK, there is the option to join BECTU. Unfortunately as with most unionised groups unless there is a minimum critical mass of members within a company or number of companies then there is little that a union can do to promote their members.

Add to that, that there are a large number of vfx people in the UK who work under freelance contracts and the number of rights which a union can try to help with is severely limited.

NN comments
or Cancel
  • 1

olivier gagnon [ Editor ]

Hi Julian,

It's Olivier.

I'm talking from my point of view. Nothing to do with my job.

You can join an union. But you have to understand what it is means. I don't know your statute (employee, freelancer ?).

But personally if I was someone with great skills, someone with a great CV, I would NOT want to join a union. I would want to be a freelancer and manage myself my contracts. You have to understand that after you join a union your hand are tied and I would not see you in that situation. They are not called "FREE"lance for nothing ! :-)

Well.. that's my point of view !

NN comments
julian
-

That’s a really good point. Would you be limited by a union too?

or Cancel
  • 0

vfx organizer

Have a look at the following two sites:

http://vfx.iatse.com/ and

http://iatse891vfx.wordpress.com/

Our Union is in the process of organizing VFX Artists in Vancouver (and the greater area); we're looking to gain for VFX Artists:

  • Contract Provisions that Exceed the B.C. Employment Standards Act
  • Access to grievance and arbitration in case of dispute
  • A minimum pay rate with ability to negotiate above scale
  • Paid overtime
  • And much more

Please help support our efforts by visiting the above sites and linking to them. We want VFX Artists everywhere to enjoy the same benefits that the rest of our Union members do.

NN comments
or Cancel

Question's Contributors

Related Questions