With SAG-AFTA, WGA, and soon possibly the IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) joining them as soon as Friday, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network workers have also filed a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board, The Hollywood Reporter has reported.
There are 66 workers from Warner Bros. Animation and 22 from Cartoon Network that filed, with the workers with positions from production manager, digital production assistant, IT technician, production coordinator, production assistant, design production coordinator, assistant production manager, and senior assistant production manager.
"Although many might not think it, production is a specialized skill; we might not be artists or writers, but what we bring to the table goes beyond traditional creativity and gets content on the air," said Hannah Ferenc, a Warner Bros. Animation production manager said in a statement. "Having lived through the existing state of the animation industry for the past seven years, I want to make sure that not only our current workers, but all those who choose to join us in the future, can feel secure in following their passion by earning livable wages and being treated with the dignity and respect they deserve."
The list of wants from the workers includes "consent over that process and a collective voice to ensure that their jobs and standards are protected." The desire for higher pay, portable benefits, and overtime pay for production managers. Television and film production has already been halted due to the ongoing strikes, such as the sequel to Mission: Impossible 7, but that is what a strike is supposed to do.
The workers are part of some of Warner Bros.' biggest hits including the upcoming Batman: The Caped Crusader, Harley Quinn, and Teen Titans Go!. On the Cartoon Network side of things, their work can be seen in Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake, We Baby Bears, and Craig of the Creek.