Jul 7, 2023

Powerhouse Animation and The Animation Guild Reach First Voluntary Agreement

Powerhouse Animation has voluntarily approved a bargaining unit of 129 artists and production workers from the Texas-based studio.

This marks the first time that animation workers are represented by an animation guild in a right-to-work state. In right-to-work states, no individual can be forced to pay dues or fees to a labor union as a condition of employment. In other words, it is up to each employee to decide whether or not to join a labor union, albeit protected by a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the union.

The Powerhouse's decision to approve the bargaining unit means that Texas is now the second state other than California with animated workers represented by the TAG.

Artists at Powerhouse Animation have worked on a number of popular animated series, including Netflix's Castlevania and Masters of the Universe: Revelation. Powerhouse also operates a small studio in Los Angeles, which has already signed a collective bargaining agreement with the Guild.

With the studio's approval of the bargaining unit of workers, Powerhouse and TAG will begin negotiating their first collective bargaining agreement.

TAG Business Representative Steve Kaplan stated in a release:

"By representing Powerhouse's artistic and production staff, the Animation Guild is further solidifying itself as the union that sets the standard for workplace conditions in the animation industry. The Animation Guild is further strengthened as a union that sets the standard for workplace conditions in the animation industry. I would also like to commend the leadership of the Powerhouse for reaching a voluntary recognition agreement. We look forward to building on the positive relationships we have established in Los Angeles and signing our first contract with a studio in Austin.

Brad Graeber, CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Powerhouse, added: "We are very pleased to be working with the Austin studio. We have strived to be a transparent and fair company that does our best to balance the work and lives of our artists in an industry that often abuses talent. When we learned that our staff wanted to organize, we worked with the union and approved their organization in a way that was fair to our very unique studio in Texas.

Suzanne Sharp, character artist and member of the Powerhouse Organizing Committee, says: [19] [20] Our colleagues' dedication and compassion for each other and for working with the studios to be the best, so that our animation workers can do what we love It is a very special moment for me personally to see them be able to create the We look forward to working with leadership to pave the way.