A super-majority of in-house Visuals Effects (VFX) Workers at Apple Studios have signed Authorization Cards to Unionize with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).

While Apple Studios management was asked to voluntarily recognize the VFX Workers’ Union, IATSE filed for an official National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Election, which is expected to take place one to two months.

The Organizing Unit consists of 17 Workers across six Apple Studios LLC shows, including BUBBI (Outcome), JIMINY (Lost Bus), FOXTROT (The Last Frontier), GOVERNMENT CHEESE (Bonneville), SURFACE (Legacy S2), and BLACKBIRD.

These Workers hold critical positions for getting Apple’s content made, including VFX Production Supervisor/Manager, VFX Associate Production Manager, Senior VFX Coordinator, VFX Coordinator, VFX Assistant Coordinator, VFX Production Assistant, VFX Witness Camera Operator, VFX Production Artist (a.k.a. In-House Compositor, Virtual Art Director), VFX On-Set Supervisor, VFX On-Set Production Supervisor/Manager, Lead VFX, Data Wrangler, VFX Data Wrangler, and VFX Jr. Data Wrangler.

While positions like Production Designers/Art Directors, Camera Operators, Sound, Editors, Hair and Makeup Artists, Costumes/Wardrobe, Script Supervisors, Grips, Lighting, Props and Paint, among others, have historically been represented by IATSE in motion picture and television, Workers in VFX classifications historically have not.

By filing for this election, Apple Studios’ in-house VFX Workers join a growing movement that has seen significant victories over the past year, including Unionization bids by Avatar VFX Artists, Marvel/Disney VFX Staffers and DNEG Workers in British Columbia and Montreal.

The momentum of the VFX Union Campaign represents a unified call for a voice within the industry and a rightful place within IATSE for both client and vendor-side VFX Professionals.

According to IATSE’s 2022 study into the rates and conditions of VFX Workers, an overwhelming majority of VFX Workers feel that their work is not sustainable in the long term, with key issues being wages, access to industry-standard health and retirement benefits, uncompensated overtime, safety and training, among others.

As part of the Union’s continued efforts to create a more sustainable VFX Industry, IATSE has encouraged all VFX Workers to participate in the ongoing 2024 VFX Return to Work Survey - which is crucial in empowering Workers to have a say in their careers and work-life balance and aims to measure the extent and impact of the Film/TV Industry contraction on VFX Professionals.