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The agreement follows the tentative agreement announced on April 2, 2026, and concludes the collective bargaining process. It reflects good-faith negotiations between the parties. The agreement covers 34 full-time and seasonal employees, as well as overhire production staff, and runs from April 20, 2026, through June 30, 2030. 

As an educational institution, Juilliard’s performances are an integral part of its curriculum, supported by production professionals who contribute to the student learning environment. The parties will continue to work together in support of the school’s educational mission. 

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In March, the theatre technicians at the Michael J. Fox Theatre unanimously voted to join ������ƵLocal 118, securing a collective voice at work and committing to a future at the venue. Weeks later, the workers learned that the theatre is slated to cease operations on June 30. On April 13, all employees were issued an eleven-week working notice.

We have since learned that in January 2025, Burnaby City Council voted unanimously to explore whether the City should play a role in managing the theatre. While we await a report back and an ultimate decision by City Council, the future of the theatre is very uncertain.

“We have to save the Michael J. Fox Theatre,” said ������ƵInternational Vice President Damian Petti. “These workers are facing an uncertain future and the community risks losing a beloved local venue. Now is the time for the City of Burnaby to act.”  

The Michael J. Fox Theatre has long served the Burnaby community as a home for live performance, student programming, and public events. Behind every show are trained theatre technicians who ensure safety, accessibility, and professional standards. These are not replaceable jobs, and this is not a disposable venue.

������Ƶbelieves the closure of the Michael J. Fox Theatre is a choice, not a necessity. The ������Ƶcalls on the City of Burnaby to invest in local arts and culture, and to commit to protecting the Michael J Fox theatre for generations to come.

The union will continue to exhaust all possible actions to fight for the technicians of ������ƵLocal 118.

If you would like to support the campaign to save the Michael J Fox Theatre and protect union jobs, visit  and sign the petition. Organizations wishing to support should contact International Representative William Gladman at wgladman@iatse.net. 

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The tentative contract reflects ongoing good-faith engagement and mutual respect between the parties. The agreement covers more than 100 theatrical production workers at the school.

“This contract is setting a new standard for wage equity across production crafts,” said Meredith Prouty-Due, Costume Design Coordinator. “We are excited to be embarking on this new chapter with Juilliard and the IATSE.”

“We came together as a collective of artisans and craftspeople across disciplines committed to lifting up our colleagues,” said A.J. Cote, Lead Carpenter. “This contract further unifies our commitment to each other and our work. Every person working under the collective bargaining agreement now has representation and a path to benefits, and it guarantees future workers a voice in their workplace.”

As an educational institution, Juilliard’s stages are training grounds, where student performances are directly tied to their curriculum. Production professionals play an integral role in supporting that educational environment.

“The mission of The Juilliard School is to cultivate excellence through the highest caliber of education in music, dance, and drama for talented students from around the world, which involves extensive performance experience supported by production professionals,” said Thom Widmann, Senior Director of Production, on behalf of The Juilliard School. “We are glad to have reached a tentative agreement with the IATSE, which represents the team that contributes to the performance environment, helping our students to develop their craft.”

������Ƶand The Juilliard School look forward to completing the ratification process and continuing their collaboration in support of Juilliard’s educational mission.

The tentative agreement will take effect upon ratification.

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The path to certification began in December 2025, when Local 63 opened discussions with the props department about the benefits of ������Ƶmembership. After several months of conversations, including consultations with unionized props departments at other theatres across Canada, workers signed their union cards in early March.

As Canada’s oldest English-language regional theatre, The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre holds a prominent place in the world of Canadian arts. Known for classics, Broadway hits, and new Canadian plays, RMTC has produced more than 600 shows in its 68-year history.

������ƵLocal 63 President Chris Thomson called the outcome a landmark moment for the union. “This is a great achievement, as this is the first department outside the stage and carpentry shop to unionize since the theatre first opened,” said Thomson.

“We are proud to welcome the props department at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre into the ������Ƶfamily,” said ������ƵInternational Vice-President and Director of Canadian Affairs, John Lewis. “These workers took an important step towards bettering their working conditions, and we look forward to supporting them as they begin bargaining a strong first agreement.”

Theatre workers interested in organizing their workplaces can reach out to ������Ƶat to connect with an organizer.

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“The American film and television industry faces an urgent threat from international competition. Foreign governments have successfully lured film and television productions, and the multitude of jobs they create, away from the United States with aggressive tax incentives and subsidies. Films intended for initial release in the U.S. are increasingly being shot overseas — and American workers are paying the price,” Loeb added. “In just a few years, ������Ƶmembers have lost tens of thousands of jobs across the United States. That’s thousands of families, small businesses, and communities across the country feeling the economic hardship of a shrinking industry.” 

Additionally, the hearing examined recent media mergers including Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, with President Loeb expressing skepticism of the deal’s impact on workers. “When major companies merge, workers often pay the price first. Without action to strengthen domestic production, we risk losing more jobs overseas. Federal policymakers must act to level the playing field and ensure the United States remains competitive in the global production market.”

Sen. Schiff and Rep. Friedman both expressed support for a federal incentive and pledged to work with lawmakers in Washington to pass one.

The spotlight hearing also featured testimony from the following witnesses:

• Noah Wyle, Golden Globe and Emmy-winning actor; star, executive producer, writer, and director of The Pitt
• Jim Acosta, journalist, author, and host of The Jim Acosta Show; former CNN anchor and Chief White House Correspondent
• Jax Deluca, Executive Director, Future Film Coalition; Research Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy

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The new agreement secures key workplace gains, including wage floor minimums and yearly wage increases, yearly bonuses, protected benefits, an enforceable promotions framework, specialty pay improvements, staffing and subcontracting protections, preserved work from home policies, locked in leave allowances, stronger crediting practices, and protections related to scanned likeness and artificial intelligence.

The Petaluma studio plays an important role in motion capture production for major 2K and Take-Two titles, and the workers’ successful contract campaign adds to growing momentum for unionization across the video game industry. ������Ƶannounced the group’s union win in November 2024 after a National Labor Relations Board-supervised election.

“This agreement shows what workers can achieve when they stand together and bargain for the future of their craft,” said International President Matthew D. Loeb. “These workers made history when they organized, and they have made history again by ratifying the first union contract for motion capture video game workers in the United States.”

������Ƶintends to build on the success of the 2k mocap campaign and contract by supporting mocap workers throughout North America to achieve a collective voice on the job. ������Ƶrepresentatives are present this week at the , which is taking place March 9 through 13, 2026.

On Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., ������Ƶis hosting an event in Room 203 in the South Hall to discuss the contract gains and the future of worker power in the video game and motion capture sectors (all game workers invited).

Workers can learn more about the movement at , or take the union’s newly launched .

Quotes from 2K motion capture workers:

Jose Gutierrez, Mocap Technical Animator:
“I am incredibly pleased to share that our recent contract negotiations have concluded with a result that truly benefits every member of our union. Starting with setting wage floor minimums that provide fair compensation. While collective bargaining is often characterized by friction, this experience was a nice departure from the norm. The company agreed to speed up the agreement process. It stands as a testament to what can be achieved when both labor and higher management approach the table with good faith bargaining, mutual respect, and a focus on long-term sustainability for all parties involved.”

Calvin Walantus, Sr. Motion Capture Tools Engineer:
While the relationship that our negotiating team was going to have with the company was uncertain earlier in the process, I was happy to see that we reached a point where both sides were legitimately considering each other’s points of view and working diligently towards solutions. I believe it was this spirit of collaboration – no doubt motivated by our members’ bold willingness to demonstrate unity in support of the negotiating team – that allowed us to reach an outstanding first contract in record time.

Matthew Peterson, Motion Capture Animator:
Going into the process of negotiations, we had very little idea of what to expect from 2K management’s side of the table. Historically union contract negotiations can be a long and tedious process. That being said I applaud 2K for their willingness to come to the table and truly bargain in good faith.  The time and work everyone within this union has put into making this contract a reality has been nothing short of inspiring as it has proven that through collaboration, communication and unity, a better tomorrow is not only possible but within reach of those who are willing to fight for it.

Connor Bredbeck, Stage Technician:
We went into the negotiating process understanding there would be a strong fight ahead. We were united in our goals, shared in solidarity with one another, and focused on protecting the work we love while acknowledging our critical efforts in making games at 2K. We are pleased that 2K was willing to negotiate and made the effort to understand, honor, and recognize the contributions of our team.

As layoffs continue to decimate the gaming industry, there is always more work to be done and 2K Mocap stands by any and all workers willing to put in the fight for their worth. This contract is not only a victory for our team, but for all game workers, and even 2K.

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The labor movement has lost a steadfast ally in Jesse Jackson, a leader who never separated the fight for civil rights from the fight for workers’ rights. Reverend Jackson stood with and for working people at every turn, understanding that economic justice is inseparable from racial justice, and that strong unions are essential to both. He believed that dignity on the job was a cornerstone of democracy itself. 

After he campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination, Jackson delivered the keynote address at the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco. There, he gave voice to his vision of a “Rainbow Coalition”, a movement rooted in the nation’s racial, religious, and economic diversity. This coalition was a call to build solidarity across lines too often used to divide working people. 

His historic presidential campaigns reshaped the American political landscape. They expanded the definition of leadership and inspired generations of Black leaders and working-class leaders of every background to step forward. By insisting that the concerns of everyday workers belonged at the center of national debate, he helped unions claim their rightful place in the broader struggle for justice. 

As we mourn the loss of Reverend Jackson, we also honor the enduring legacy he leaves behind. For unions and working families, his life stands as a reminder that solidarity is our greatest strength. He challenged us to dream bigger, organize broader, and fight harder for a country where every worker is respected, protected, and paid fairly. His voice may be stilled, but his call to build a true Rainbow Coalition of working people continues to echo in every picket line, bargaining table, and ballot box. 

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