WHEELING, WV — A clear majority of film technicians working on The Gun on Second Street have signaled their united decision to form a union and bargain for industry-standard wages and benefits, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) announced Wednesday. At this time, the producers have refused to recognize the workers’ union and negotiate in good faith. In the absence of these talks, the unionized crew will strike on Thursday, December 18th at 10:30am Eastern. IATSE members are also ordered not to cross the picket line and should not accept work from this production in the event they attempt to replace the crew.
Crew members have reported they are not receiving industry standard wages and health/retirement benefits, and have been misclassified as 1099 independent contractors rather than employees. Misclassification is a serious issue that can deny workers essential rights such as unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation coverage, employer-provided healthcare insurance, and Social Security contributions. Such practices fall far below the working standards expected on professional productions and violate the norms of the American motion picture industry.
The Gun on Second Street, an independent crime drama written and directed by Rohit Karn Batra, lists Congressman Eric Swalwell an Executive Producer on the project. Congressman Swalwell has been made aware of the labor issues on this production. The film’s cast includes notable actors such as Tom Arnold, Noah Fearnley, Shô Oyamada, Poppy Delevingne, Jack Kesy, and Dianna Agron. The film is shooting entirely in the Wheeling, West Virginia area and has presented itself as a local economic opportunity for the community. The production is covered under a SAG-AFTRA Agreement, but not under agreements with the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the Teamsters, or IATSE.
“Every production, regardless of budget or political connections, must respect the rights of the people who make film and television possible. The Alliance is prepared to support this crew as they take collective action to secure safe working conditions, fair compensation, proper classification and a voice on the job,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. “These workers deserve the same rights and protections film and tv workers have across the country. I’m proud of this crew for standing together in this moment and fighting for what’s right in the face of tremendous pressure. It is now the producers’ responsibility to meet them at the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith.”
