AI Usage in Film Crew Union Agreement

Last week, major film studios and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) reached an agreement on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in film production. The new contract allows AI to be used as a tool, but with specific limitations. Workers can request consultations about AI use, receive AI skills training, and ensure AI tasks are not outsourced to non-union labor. Employees using their own AI systems can charge a rental fee, similar to other personal equipment.
However, the contract does not include severance pay for job losses due to AI, although it does protect workers from being forced to input prompts that could displace other union members. The IATSE terms differ from those of the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA by requiring separate consent for AI scanning, which cannot be a condition of employment.
The union will hold town halls to discuss the agreement before the ratification vote. The deal also includes quarterly and bi-annual meetings with employers to discuss AI use. Employers can prohibit AI use by employees, but if permitted, they will indemnify workers from legal liability, barring gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Additional terms of the agreement include a 7% wage increase in the first year, followed by 4% and 3.5% in subsequent years. The health and pension funds will receive over $700 million in increased funding, with no increases in health care costs or reductions in benefits for employees and their dependents.