Hollywood, Calif., Local 40 has a lot to celebrate. The union representing members who work at the major motion picture studios secured historic wins in its recent contract negotiations, all while turning 101 years old.
"These new contracts are the strongest agreements we have negotiated in four decades," Business Manager Stephan Davis said. "These achievements are the result of our united resolve as members alongside our brothers and sisters in other Hollywood unions and guilds."
Negotiated in coalition with other unions in the Hollywood Basic Crafts, Local 40 worked out an agreement covering roughly 700 members who work for studios including Paramount, Walt Disney, Netflix, Fox, Apple, CBS, Warner Brothers and Universal. A similar agreement was also negotiated with Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park, covering about 150 members.
Among the wins were 7% wage increases in the first year of both agreements — the largest increase since 1984. To put this in perspective, over one-third of the membership wasn't even born the last time the local saw such a significant raise, Davis said.
Members covered under the studio agreement also won June 19, or Juneteenth, as a holiday; a new 401(k); bereavement leave; two additional sick days; triple time after 15 hours worked; and maintenance of health and retirement benefits with no added cost to members.
Theme park members now have improved vacation accrual and subcontracting language. They also maintained their health benefits with no additional costs.
"It's nice seeing all the hard work pay off," said Peter Diamond, a member of Local 40 for over 20 years who participated in negotiations. "It's always great when you keep what you have, and it's even greater when you gain more for your members."
The agreements cover multiple classifications, including wiremen, HVAC technicians and sound workers on the studio lot campuses, as well as all of the portable air-conditioning and generator operators on a production when they shoot on location.
The new contracts, ratified by an overwhelming majority of members in August, came on the heels of negotiations between the studios and other crafts like IATSE, as well as the strikes by SAG-AFTRA and Writer's Guild of America members, which put pressure on the industry to do better for its less famous workers.
"These historic agreements could not have been reached without the sacrifices of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA members during their strikes," Davis said. "What they achieved set the tone for our local and the other unions we bargain with."
The actors' and writers' strikes also played a role in Local 40's centennial anniversary. The union was formed in 1923 — during the early days of film and before television — but as a show of solidarity with their brothers and sisters on the picket line, Local 40 members delayed the celebration until last summer.
Local 40 celebrated on the backlot of Warner Bros. Studios with a live band, dancing, and Hollywood memorabilia including the Batmobile from the 1997 film "Batman & Robin" and the couch from "Friends." The party was attended by International President Kenneth W. Cooper, International Secretary-Treasurer Paul Noble and Ninth District International Vice President Dave Reaves.
"On behalf of all the officers, staff and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, I want to give you my heartfelt congratulations," Cooper said. "What you've done for the last century here in Hollywood is truly amazing."
Ninth District International Representative Tim Dixon, a former Local 40 business manager, was also on hand and reflected on the union's history, which started with 12 members agreeing to work for no less than $7.50 for a 10-hour day.
"While it's almost impossible for us to comprehend what those founding 12 members went through to form this union, I don't think there's any way that they could imagine that Local 40 would survive 100 years, let alone what we've achieved in that time," Dixon said.