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Hollywood, the place of hopes, glamour, and glitz, is the dream of many. While a lot of the Hollywood aspirants make it to the screens, in front of the cameras, and on the stages, while countless others in Hollywood fall in the category of working behind the scenes. These are the people that put most of the effort into making movies, series, music, and videos. While we so passionately wish to know the faces of the people on screen and are wowed by their charisma and charm, we tend to forget the others who work tirelessly to create our favorite movies and films. 

But the loss of recognition is not the only thing these actual Hollowood heroes suffer. Behind the scenes, workers of the glam city also have to contend with extremely low wages over extended periods of time, endlessly tiring working hours, and not even basic protection that workers are owed in America. 

The union representing the workers of Hollywood brought a few of the "most grievous" issues of the work conditions into the limelight: "Excessively unsafe and harmful working hours, unlivable wages for the lowest-paid crafts and consistent failure to provide reasonable rest during meal breaks, between workdays, and on weekends."

And now the most glamourous industry of America, Hollywood, is on the verge of a breakout and maybe even a complete standstill. The workers' strike could be the biggest walkout of a worker union in America since World War Two. The strike of the IATSE, also the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, comes when workers demand better work conditions, longer turnarounds between production days, increased wages, better rest periods, and rates from streaming projects. 

Here is all you need to know about the film city's strike and why it is happening:-

What is IATSE?

Image source: The Wrap

IATSE, or International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories, and Canada, is the workers union of Hollywood that is responsible for representing the technicians, artisans, and craftspersons of the film city. It includes everyone from electricians manning the equipment, technicians, special effect artists, doctors on the set, costume and makeup artists, and all other behind the scene workers that see the gears of the machine that Hollywood is oiled. 

Why are the workers of Hollywood striking?

Adverse work conditions with no concern for the mental or physical health of Hollywood workers is a normal occurrence in the film industry. Hence, they have to manage extended work shifts that could last up to 18 hours, extremely low wages, and no time for personal care whatsoever. IATSE, hence, has been vocalizing the stories of the productions and making them public through their Instagram account so that the general people can have a glimpse into the not-so-glamorous lives of these people. 

The stories paint a grim portrait of work conditions ranging over horrific events such as wage theft, ignored medical emergencies, and countless years lost away from families and loved ones. The workers retell incidents such as when they had to drive home after sleepless days making the ride extremely dangerous, or when their high-importance medical emergencies were not allowed to be treated just because they couldn't take time off. 

What is being done about the strikes and the work conditions?

The IATSE union is taking small steps as of now but believes directing their actions against specific means can help further their cause. This Monday, the workers of the union have taken to canceling their subscriptions of streaming websites as they believe that cutting their subscriptions can channel their cause to where it will actually affect Hollywood. In an interview with Variety, Terri Freedman, an IATSE worker, said, "It's purely grassroots, as a means of getting the attention of these streaming services. The biggest place to affect a corporation is where their income lies."

Owing to the workers' outbreak, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers held talks with the IATSE, conversing about worker conditions and improvements that are being demanded by the union. However, prior to the strike threats, negotiations were already being carried out from the past four months that included both the Producer and IATSE parties. The Local 600 is one of the workers' groups that takes part in these negotiations. 

However, despite the attempts of IATSE to secure improved working conditions, a secure work agreement, and better health care for set technicians, costume, makeup, and prop artists or other Hollywood workers, the negotiations haven't accounted for much. Ultimately, the workers had to resort to the IATSE strikes.  

Will the film industry suffice without the IATSE workers? 

The behind scene workers of Hollywood are the one utmost important asset of the industry, and they are the sole drivers of the production of films and series. The whole crew of IATSE has yet never gone on strike before, which means a complete strikeout could result in the entire film city shutting down as workers will not undertake any projects. The only demand is that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers agree to the demand of the workers. Otherwise, around 60,000 workers are ready to leave the sets of their film and walk for the historical strike to be held on October 4. 

Everyone that stands together with IATSE 

Image source: Iatse.net

The workers union has received immense support from the Writers Guild of America, SAG-AFTRA, the Directors Guild of America, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. These associations have come together to sign petitions and statements supporting the cause and are also backed up by actors like Seth Rogen, Ben Stiller, Bradley Whitford, Anthony Rapp, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Rachel Zegler, and Jeremy O. Harris.

What does Local 600 have to say?

The largest group of workers supporting IATSE is Local 600, a group also known as The national executive board of the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG). In a statement released on Sunday, the ICG said that they have decided to stand behind IATSE workers and are also asking their members to vote for the behind the scene workers. 

Talking about the association decision, Local 600 leader John Lindley said, "The elected leaders of Local 600 spoke with one voice today on behalf of the thousands of their members who are unified in their resolve to get a fair deal from the employers who have walked away from the bargaining table."

Director Rebecca Rhine, national executive of ICG, added, "This fight is about basic rights and safe and healthy working conditions. Nobody wants to go on strike, but we have been given little choice by companies that are earning record profits off of our members' labor but are unwilling to treat those same workers with dignity and respect."

The collective voices are made stronger by the Writers Guild of America West's tweet: "We stand with our sisters and brothers of IATSE in their worthy fight for safe working conditions and a fair contract."