“These were tough negotiations, but we got a good contract for our casting directors and collaborators,” said Steve Dayan, secretary and treasurer of Teamsters Local 399. “It was ratified last night. It was the last big contract we had to negotiate in 2018. The terms of the new contract have not been made public, but Dayan said it contains no rollbacks. The interim agreement would also cover other local artisans in other unions, including electricians, stuciers, plumbers and supply workers employed in Los Angeles` entertainment industry. Casting directors and employees in Los Angeles and New York have ratified a new three-year contract negotiated on their behalf by Teamsters Locals 399 in LA and 817 in New York. The joint agreement with the management`s AMPTP includes about 400 casting professionals in LA and a hundred in New York. Teamsters Local 399 in Hollywood and Local 817 in New York have entered into a preliminary agreement with management`s AMPTP for a new three-year contract for casting directors and casting employees. The joint agreement includes about 400 casting professionals in Los Angeles and a hundred in New York. “As usual, these negotiations were difficult and extended into the night; But in the end, we reached an agreement,” Local 399 said in its Monday announcement. As usual, these negotiations were difficult and lasted into the night,” Local 399 secretary and treasurer Steve Dayan said in a letter posted on the union`s website. “In the end, we reached an agreement.” The union announced on Monday that the new contract would succeed a previous three-year contract from 2015. Details of the new agreement for film and television works have not been published. Union members are expected to vote on the proposed contract in the coming weeks.

This welcome response contrasts with the receipt of the IATSE agreement. 11 out of 13 residents signed a letter from IATSE International President Matt Loeb recommending ratification, one reluctantly supporting the treaty anyway and another, Local 700, in open revolt. This attitude does not seem to have gained strength beyond Local 700 (the Motion Picture Editors Guild) and so ratification seems likely….