NEW ORLEANS, LA. — Workers at Swaybox Studios in New Orleans have voted to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), securing union representation through a National Labor Relations Board election and marking one of the largest film and television organizing victories in the union’s recent history.

Swaybox is currently working on a Warner Bros. Pictures Animation feature with a budget of approximately $90 million. As a result, this victory represents one of the largest organizing drives in film and television production undertaken by IATSE in recent years and expands union representation into an area of animation where workers have long lacked industry-standard protections.

The newly organized bargaining unit includes 136 workers, a number expected to grow significantly as Swaybox moves deeper into production on current and future projects. The group includes a broad cross-section of animation, visual effects, editorial, puppet and set fabrication, costume, prop, technical, engineering, production support, information technology, facilities, and administrative workers who bring Swaybox’s stop-motion productions to life.

Workers voted to unionize after reaching out to IATSE seeking support for industry standard wages, working conditions, benefits, and a stronger voice on the job- conditions that are standard in Warner Bros. and other major studios agreements with the IATSE. The margin of victory of counted ballots was 71.4 percent. 

Workers began this campaign by taking the first step and reaching out to their union for help. “Too many workers in this segment of the entertainment industry believe they have to accept low pay or poor conditions because they’re told that’s how the job works,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. “The workers at Swaybox proved otherwise. If you’re working non-union and things aren’t right, if pay is low, take the first step and call the union. We’ll have your back.”

Simonette Berry, Business Agent of IATSE Local 478, said: “This campaign began last summer when Swaybox workers from across the production reached out to Local 478 because they wanted a real voice on the job. Today, by standing together across crafts and departments, they’ve shown that productions coming to Louisiana to build world-class films can’t expect to succeed by lowering standards or ignoring the people whose talent and dedication bring those projects to life. Their courage and solidarity send a powerful message: when workers stand together, they have the power to shape their future. This victory belongs to the crew.”

IATSE also called attention to what the union describes as an unnecessary and costly anti-union campaign. Rather than proactively recognizing workers’ desire for representation and working toward an industry-standard labor agreement, the union says Swaybox and its production partners chose a different path.

“Swaybox and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation had every opportunity to do the right thing and engage constructively with workers and their union from the beginning,” said IATSE International Vice President Mike Miller. “Instead, workers were forced through an extended election process while management retained an expensive union-busting law firm. That decision created unnecessary conflict, expense, and delay.”

The union further argued that the campaign raises broader questions about the role and responsibilities of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, which has publicly asserted ownership and control over the intellectual property and production associated with the project. According to IATSE, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation sought to portray Swaybox workers and the production itself as integral to its intellectual property interests, while simultaneously distancing itself from responsibility for labor standards and established union relationships within the motion picture industry.

The union is calling on the leaders of Swaybox, along with Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, to move immediately toward negotiating an industry-standard collective bargaining agreement that respects the workers’ democratic decision to unionize. “The workers have now spoken clearly, and we expect Swaybox and Warner Bros. to come to an industry standard agreement immediately,” said Vice President Miller.

The election result is a call to action among film, television, animation, and digital media workers seeking collective bargaining rights across North America. As production models evolve and new sectors emerge, workers are increasingly demanding the same wages, benefits, protections, and workplace voice that union standards have established throughout much of the entertainment industry.

Arvid Cristina, Assistant MoMo Editor said, “When workers feel heard, morale improves, and productivity improves. This will be a good thing for all parties involved.  I have enjoyed my time here, and have enjoyed watching them grow. This is the next step in that growth.”

Natalie Usie, Production Secretary said, “I am incredibly proud to stand alongside our crew members, who dedicate immense time and creative energy to bringing this film to life. More than that, I am proud of how we collectively stood up for one another to secure an opportunity to collaborate with Swaybox for our future. We have finally earned the power to negotiate in good faith for proper titles, fair pay, enhanced benefits, job security, and better working conditions.

One of the most rewarding parts of this project has been handling diverse tasks that span across various positions and skill sets. While we are grateful for the experience and knowledge gained by stepping outside our traditional roles, proper titles and compensation are deserved for the actual work our crew has delivered. This versatility is something we deeply value, and many of us hope to continue working at these multifaceted levels. I look forward to seeing this project to completion and supporting both this film and the future of Swaybox as a studio. Ultimately, our goal is to pave the way for future generations of Swaybox employees, ensuring they receive the same benefits we are fighting for today.“

Matthew Laird, Puppet Generalist said, “I love the art of puppetry. It’s been my career for 20 years. As technology evolves, puppetry has become more of a novelty. That’s why I believe Swaybox is doing something really special and innovative. But when you grow rapidly from a small-scale operation to a big-budget movie, you need help. People and concerns get left behind. So it’s exciting as an employee to unionize. This is a legitimizing force for Swaybox. It puts them and all of us on the map in a big way. Working as a collective and sitting down at the table together means Swaybox has truly arrived on the scene. I’m looking forward to seeing this project completed, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for Swaybox.”