In a landmark development for the animation industry, remote workers at DreamWorks Animation (DWA) across the U.S., alongside feature production staff at Netflix Animation Studios and employees on the show “Ted,” have officially voted to unionize. The workers will be represented by The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839) and the Editors Guild (IATSE Local 700), signaling a united effort to secure fair pay, equitable treatment, and better working conditions across the industry.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) oversaw the ballot count for the DWA remote workers, which resulted in an overwhelming majority voting “yes” for union representation with The Animation Guild. Following the decisive outcome, DreamWorks has committed to formally recognizing this remote bargaining unit, opening the door to contract negotiations aimed at addressing long-standing inequities identified by off-site employees.

The DWA remote unit comprises professionals working on LA-based animation projects from across the U.S., covering both feature films and television. Roles include story artists, animators, character effects artists, technical directors, lighters, visual development artists, modelers, and production coordinators. Many of these positions are already covered under The Animation Guild’s Master Agreement for on-site employees in LA County, highlighting the disparity remote workers sought to rectify.

Unionization was driven by a desire to address unequal treatment between remote and on-campus employees. The collective goal is to establish a path for fair collective bargaining, securing equal pay, healthcare and retirement benefits, robust workers’ rights, and sustainable workplace practices, irrespective of physical location.

Steve Kaplan, business representative for The Animation Guild, noted, “These units overwhelmingly voted in favor of TAG representation after facing the degrading process of being forced into an NLRB election and the unnecessary delay of the government shutdown.” Kaplan emphasized the Guild’s commitment to expanding protections across all animation roles, ensuring rights for workers regardless of geography.

Anthony Holden, a remote story artist based in Washington State and part of the organizing committee, echoed the sentiment: “I’ve valued the opportunity to help unite our voices in seeking equality with our on-campus counterparts…fair pay, access to healthcare and retirement benefits, among other issues.” Holden expressed optimism about negotiating with DreamWorks to foster an equitable workplace, benefiting both employees and the studio’s creative output.

Meanwhile, feature production workers at Netflix Animation Studios and production staff on “Ted” have celebrated their own successful NLRB elections, joining The Animation Guild and Editors Guild. Erin Sullivan, a production coordinator at NAS, said, “During my five years at NAS, my amazing production colleagues have shown up each day with diligence, passion, and a breadth of skills and experience, both creative and strategic.” She highlighted the historic opportunity for self-representation and the industry-wide precedent set for animation production workers, signaling a transformative moment.