Four weeks of discussions are scheduled. The current contract is set to expire July 31.
IATSE—whose more than 100,000 members include cinematographers, set decorators and prop masters—is concerned that increasing healthcare costs may cause cuts in health and pension benefits for below-the-line crew members. Teamsters Local 399, which represents more than 3,000 drivers, is also participating in the negotiations as part of a new bargaining alliance with IATSE. The two unions face a large deficit in their health and pension plans that were funded by residual payments and employer contributions.
The talks will focus on closing that deficit, estimated to be at least $300 million over the next three years, according to the Times.
A possible solution is rising the union's eligibility requirements, as they did in 2009 when the minimum number of compulsory hours of work over a six-month period was increased from 300 to 400. Though, not all members of IATSE supported that raise.
