Animation Guild members ratify new contract

Hollywood’s animators have inked a new contract.

Members of the Animation Guild Local 839 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees voted 87% to 13% to affirm a new three-year contract recently negotiated by the union.

The contract will provide 2% annual increases in wages and requires employers to boost by 20% the hourly contribution to the union’s health plan. Members with dependents, however, would also be required for the first time to pay premiums of $25 to $50 a month for healthcare coverage.

Terms were modeled on a similar contract IATSE negotiated on behalf of camera operators and other crew members in May.

Guild negotiators walked out of talks in April, but talks resumed in June. A deal was reached after 15 hours of bargaining.

The new contract covers 2,600 artists, writers and technicians employed in the animation industry, on projects such as the Cartoon Network series “Green Lantern” and DreamWorks Animation’s theatrical release “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.”

ALSO:

IATSE, studios reach contract agreement

Animation Guild reaches deal on new contract

Healthcare costs to dominate IATSE, AMPTP talks