Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network animators are attempting to unionize.
According to Deadline, a number of animators from both companies signed a petition to request a union election, which was submitted to the National Labor Relations Board yesterday.
The petition was signed by 66 staff members at Warner Bros. Animation, as well as 22 from Cartoon Network. It’s reported signatories include production managers, digital production assistants, production coordinators, and a senior assistant production manager. Their work includes Batman: Caped Crusader, Harley Quinn, and Teen Titans Go! as well as Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake among others.
Congrats to the WB and Cartoon Network production workers for filing an NLRB petition to unionize and demand voluntary recognition! Show your support to help them get the representation they deserve! #unionstrong #WeAre839 #ProductionStrong pic.twitter.com/PSXZmlr35n
— The Animation Guild // #WeAre839 (@animationguild) July 19, 2023
“Although many might not think it, production is a specialized skill,” said Warner Bros. Animation production manager, Hannah Ferenc in an official statement. “We might not be artists or writers, but what we bring to the table goes beyond traditional creativity and gets content on the air.”
As well as the petition, workers also requested voluntary recognition from the management at Warner Bros. Discovery subsidiaries. “Having lived through the existing state of the animation industry for the past seven years, I want to make sure that not only our current workers, but all those who choose to join us in the future, can feel secure in following their passion by earning livable wages and being treated with the dignity and respect they deserve,” said Ferenc.
The Animation Guild has already been rather active at studios such as Titmouse New York and L.A. as well as ShadowMachine. It is currently trying to establish itself at Walt Disney Animation Studios, too.
The move comes amid mounting pressure on Hollywood studios from all angles, with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes highlighting labor issues across the board. In fact, our own investigation into the VFX industry has highlighted the desire for post-production workers to unionize, too.
Want to read more about the Hollywood strikes? Check out how the Hollywood strikes might revitalize online streaming as well as Disney CEO Bob Iger’s comments on the ongoing strike action.
Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
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