The week before Thanksgiving in Los Angeles, the post-production crew on season 2 of Discovery Channel’s hit show, “Naked and Afraid” stood together in their united desire for a contract that would provide them with paid overtime, increased pay for 6th and 7th day work, and health and pension contributions.
With post-production at a standstill, the company attempted to re-crew with non-union labor but was unsuccessful.
Rain or shine, all week the IATSE, Local 700, and West Coast Locals stood in support with a strong showing on the picket line.
Six days into the job action, with deadlines looming, the production company and the IA were deep in negotiations. Before lunch on Saturday, a tentative agreement was reached, and the picket line happily was halted. Production and post-production crew will be covered under a new Agreement that will supply health and pension benefits to the workers and their families. With the new contract, a portion of the crew received raises that doubled their salaries.
The crew are now back at work on the first few episodes and got to enjoy Thanksgiving knowing that they have months of union work ahead of them.
