Yesterday, The Animation Guild announced some pretty significant news: Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network production workers are seeking to unionize with them, and have requested voluntary recognition from Warner Bros. Discovery to that end. It's the latest big move from TAG—who have aggressively sought to unionize the U.S. animation industry—and the latest sign of discontent in the animation industry, which has been going through what can best be described as a bad time.
Hollywood Reporter notes that some of the specific productions these workers cover "[include] Warner Bros. Animation’s Batman: The Caped Crusader, Harley Quinn and Teen Titans Go! and Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake, We Baby Bears and Craig of the Creek."
Hollywood Reporter also adds that the genesis of unionization here was quite specific. Paraphrasing TAG organizer Ben Speight, development and production for both WB Animation and Cartoon Network were merged as a part of Warner Bros. Discovery's ongoing tire-fire of a situation. Production staffers wanted—but as far as I can tell, did not receive—significant input in the process where a union would have allowed them to do so. More mundane considerations of course played a part in the desire to unionize too: these workers want better pay, overtime pay (they allegedly receive none!), and actually good benefits from their jobs. They also want to join the growing number of union members in animation.
