AI Terms Remain Vague as IATSE Releases Its Tentative Basic Agreement Summary

IATSE has now released the summary of its tentative new Basic Agreement with the AMPTP, and the 13 locals that work under this contract have started to hold town hall meetings and make other efforts to share the information with members.

The provisional deal — which includes wage increases (a 7% raise in minimums in the first year, followed by bumps of 4% and 3.5%), additional payments for benefit plans that would address the $670 million funding gap and AI language — was welcome news for many entertainment workers, who want to get back to work and avert a potential strike.

The full details of the tentative deal won’t be available until a Memorandum of Agreement is completed and released, which is believed to be at least another week away. Listed below is the AI portion of the summary, which seems to indicate that at least some of what could impact entertainment workers is still to be determined.

The summary reports that the tentative deal includes “quarterly meetings with individual companies and bi-annual joint industry wide meetings when requested by the Union to address issues in a timely matter throughout the term of the contract.” Also looking ahead, it notes, “With very limited exceptions, language will be added to the Agreements that addresses the requirement of the Employer to negotiate with the Union over any impact the use of AI Systems may have upon employees.”

Noted as well is that the parties will create clear definitions for “AI Systems.”

Underscoring IATSE’s intent to treat AI as a tool, the summary confirms that a committee will be formed to develop AI training programs. A recent NRG survey found that only 14% of creative professionals (this was not limited to IATSE members) believe there are “plenty” of currently available AI training resources.

Less certain is what exactly will be offered in terms of job protection (with 54% of respondents in the aforementioned NRG survey believing AI will lead to fewer job opportunities). The summary offers, “An employee shall not be required to provide prompts in any manner that results in the displacement of any covered employee.” (IATSE didn’t respond to a request for clarification on some of the summary points.)

The 13 locals that work under the Basic Agreement include a range of jobs, including cinematographers, editors and set medics, all of whom could be affected by AI in a different way and at different points in time.

A ratification vote hasn’t yet been scheduled. The current contract expires July 31.