The Animation Guild has another set of animation production workersthis time around Bento Box entertainment.
A group of trade union workers in production Bob’s Burgers and Central Park studio was voluntarily recognized after an outside arbitrator completed a card check on Sept. 30, a Guild representative told The Hollywood Reporter. The 100-employee bargaining unit includes the roles of audio coordinator, development and design supervisor, digital supervisor, writer’s assistant, and production coordinator.
The Animation Guild first announced the news on Monday in a tweet. “Production workers @BentoBoxEnt are now officially represented by the #AnimationGuild. Let’s welcome them to the #Union! Congratulations!” the tweet read.
The Hollywood Reporter has asked Bento Box Entertainment for comment.
The news comes just months after 15 editors in pre- and post-production at Bento Box Entertainment affiliated with The Editors Guild, even after an arbitrator-certified employee supports the union through a card check. Prior to their union action with production workers, The Animation Guild already represented animation artists and writers at the company.
The Animation Guild has a targeted push to organize production staff in animation workshops since January, and to achieve success so far in Titmouse’s offices in New York and LA and ShadowMachine, as well as the shows Rick and Morty, Solar Contradictions, The Simpsons, Family man and American father! Responsible for moving material and coordinating cross-departmental communication about animation projects, production workers were largely unattached to major projects until 2022. Now, in an effort to improve their influence within the industry and individual workplaces, The Animation Guild wants to change that.
“The only way we can make meaningful and lasting and significant changes in the animation industry is if we can speak the voice of everyone who works in animation,” said Steve Kaplan, TAG Affairs Representative, who was recently re-elected. at the Guild, told THR in June.