IATSE and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television
Producers have agreed to continue at a later date their "opening
round" of contract talks to make way for the upcoming separate
negotiations the producers have with SAG and AFTRA.
On Monday, IATSE began three days of talks with the AMPTP on its current
contract, which expires in August 2009. The discussions revolved around new
media, minimums and the pension and health plans, including the impact of the
2006 Pension Protection Act on funding standards, according to a joint
statement from the two sides.
"These talks have been extremely helpful in understanding the fundamental
issues before us in an environment that has been conducive to
bargaining," IATSE president Thomas Short said. "We look forward to
the resumption of negotiations with AMPTP and to securing a contract that will
benefit our membership."
No date has been set to resume talks, but both sides will likely wait until
SAG and AFTRA finish their separate negotiations with the majors. SAG is set
to start talks on Monday, while AFTRA is scheduled for April 28.
"We've covered a lot of ground in an opening round that's been both
respectful and mutually beneficial," AMPTP's Nick Counter said.
