The Animation Guild Wants To Unionize Their IT Crew With The Help of 'The Simpsons' And 'Family Guy.'
The Animation Guild (TAG) has announced that they will try and unionize about 100 workers and IT people who work on the hit shows The Simpsons, Family Guy, and American Dad, much the way the shows Rick and Morty and Hulu's Solar Opposite have been unionizing - even though The Guild says attorneys representing the production companies are not on board to recognize the group under TAG.
While those working with The Simpsons had no comment on the topic. American Dad's animatic and timing production supervisor said,
"Those of us who have been working in animation production for many years take pride in knowing that we are an integral part of the longevity and evolution of our shows, right alongside the artists that we work with.
"Even though we meet the same tight deadlines and work the same long hours, we [are aware] that we do not share the same basic protections as the artists we spend those hours with. We deserve the same respect and dignity as our fellow Union-protected workers."
Ashley Cooper, the production manager for The Simpsons, added,
"It is time we were included in TAG so we can have the same quality health care, pensions, and transparency in compensation that our counterparts currently enjoy."
As of last Friday, TAG reached a bargaining agreement for a three-year contract. The specifics have yet to be revealed, though it includes wage increases and better terms for animation writers, as well as a committee that covers union-covered remote work.
