Hollywood drivers accept new contract, possible strike averted

Hollywood drivers overwhelmingly accepted an offer from movie and TV producers on Sunday, which helps avert a possible strike.

The drivers had threatened to strike if their demand of an annual pay hike of 3 percent was not met. The impasse was resolved on Saturday night, when the producers sweetened their offer by agreeing to pay more and give some travel expenses for the drivers.

Under the new contract, Hollywood drivers will receive a 2-percent pay hike and increased contributions towards their health insurance costs, said sources from the Teamsters Union Hollywood Local 399 which represents more than 3,000 Hollywood drivers.

About 97 percent of the drivers voted to accept the new contract, the sources said.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the major studios, had offered annual rises of 2 percent, while the Teamsters sought 3 percent, the same as the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) received.

Studio executives said the IATSE contract was negotiated in the spring of 2008. They added that other unions, including the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, accepted the 2-percent rises in more recent talks.

The last time the Teamsters struck in Hollywood was in 1988, when they stayed away from work for 24 days due to a dispute over pay and changes in overtime rules.

Writers went on strike for 100 days in 2007-2008, and the Screen Actors Guild had a yearlong dispute with the studios, hindering productions.

Source: Xinhua