Disney, Marvel, and ‘Avatar’ VFX Workers Finally Ratify First Union Contracts

Visual effects (VFX) workers at Disney's Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, and the "Avatar" franchise have successfully approved their first-ever collective bargaining agreements since their landmark unionization with IATSE two years ago.

Disney and Marvel VFX employee gain better health benefits, pension, and overtime.

According to the agreements announced by IATSE, workers at Disney and Marvel Studios secured four-year contracts. Key highlights include guaranteed overtime pay, established minimum-hour guarantees, and substantial health and pension benefits through inclusion in MPI Healthcare & Pension plans. These benefits represent an estimated compensation increase of around $13 per hour for each employee, covering health and retirement contributions. Additionally, the contracts provide pay increases on minimum rates retroactive to January 1, 2025.

“Avatar” franchise workers got a separate contract for three years.

Workers on the "Avatar" franchise received a separate three-year contract featuring preferential hiring rights on future films within the franchise, without a reduction in pay. This agreement incorporates annual wage increases aligned with the IATSE Basic Agreement and MPIPHP benefits retroactive to August 1, 2024. Additionally, new wage scales based on a standard 40-hour work week will apply for upcoming films, with more than one-third of the bargaining unit receiving immediate pay increases retroactively effective from January 1, 2024.

Upcoming "Avatar" sequels are scheduled for release over the next few years. This December "Avatar: Fire and Ash" will be release, followed by two additional films set for 2029 and 2031.

IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb celebrated the agreements, highlighting their significance within the broader movement toward unionization in the VFX industry.

"After successfully organizing, negotiating, and ratifying first agreements, winning the same benefits and rights as their co-workers in other union crafts, these three bargaining units are representative of a growing movement to unionize VFX workers in North America.”

This historic negotiation followed a pivotal unionization effort in August 2023, when VFX teams at Marvel and Disney initiated union elections with the National Labor Relations Board. At the time, a supermajority of VFX workers at both Marvel (over 50 employees) and Walt Disney Pictures (18 employees) demonstrated clear support by signing authorization cards.

Patrick DeVaney, PostVis coordinator on "Avatar," underscored the broader industry significance of these contracts.

“This is not just a victory for our unit, but for all of the VFX industry because they now see that it is possible to achieve the seat at the table, the respect, and the more equitable payment and benefits that have been denied us for so long. Today is a new day for all VFX workers—Avatar is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Congratulations to these workers, especially the VFX workers, for finally getting union representation and a secured contract.