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SNL Visual Effects Team Ratifies First IATSE Contract

By ratifying the deal, the 15-member team locks in new pay scales, ongoing health benefits, AI safeguards, grievance procedures following rapid negotiations

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Overview

  • Fifteen in-house visual effects artists voted unanimously on July 14 to approve their inaugural IATSE contract
  • Negotiations that began in April and concluded ahead of the season 50 finale secured established minimum wage tiers and annuity contributions
  • The agreement guarantees kill fees for canceled projects, a formal grievance process and strict protections against AI overreach and outsourcing
  • Organizers gained voluntary recognition in October 2024 after petitioning NBC and wearing union insignia on set instead of threatening a strike
  • The ratification reflects a surge in unionization among studio VFX teams, following similar IATSE drives at Marvel and Disney