Production Workers at Netflix Animation Studios Ratify First Union Contract with The Animation Guild
Skwigly
Feature film production workers at Netflix Animation Studios (NAS) have overwhelmingly voted to ratify their first Union contract with The Animation Guild (TAG), IATSE Local 839. The agreement was approved with almost 89% of the bargaining unit voting and 89% in favor of ratification.
The organizing campaign started in August 2023, and the unit gained Union recognition through an NLRB election on December 30, 2025. Over two consecutive weeks in May 2026, members of the Negotiating Committee bargained a first contract with the studio that establishes wage minimums, dismissal pay, and workplace protections for production workers.
The NAS agreement represents a significant milestone for animation production workers and expands organizing efforts across the animation industry in recent years.
“Every production group to negotiate has built upon the foundation of those that came before them, and the NAS production contract really showcases that,” says TAG Organizer Allison Smartt. “NAS workers have won the highest Production Assistant rates in any TAG production agreement. In just five years since we organized the first group of animation production workers, this rate sets the highest bar yet, and it wouldn’t have happened without workers fighting together in solidarity.”
“The NAS agreement showcases what can be done when two sides come to the negotiation table with the sole purpose of getting a deal done,” says Assistant Business Representative Chaz Carroll. “Most importantly the Negotiations Committee walked away from the bargaining table feeling heard by Netflix. Did they get everything they wanted? No, but they got the best deal possible and didn’t leave the table until Netflix addressed the unit’s priorities.”
Production workers involved in the campaign described ratification as both a professional and personal achievement after years of organizing.
“Taking this step has both strengthened our identity as a unit and allowed us to discover our collective power to create change,” says Erin Sullivan, Production Coordinator. “Ultimately, we were able to reach an agreement as quickly as we did because the company took our concerns seriously and came to the table ready to bargain.”
“We started this process over two years ago, organizing our peers until we knew we had enough support to form our Union,” says Ana Tessier, Production Coordinator. “I’m so happy to see our hard work pay off. Becoming a part of the Union is a huge step to ensuring production workers in animation can build long-term careers in this rapidly changing industry.”
“It was an honor to be on this committee to help fight for our colleagues,” says Alexandra Mitchell, Production Supervisor. “It feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help negotiate a first contract. In addition to the general Union benefits, I’m proud of what we’ve done for the PAs wage-wise. It was important to fight for them so we continue to build an industry that fights for each other.”
“Since I started at NAS in 2019, production workers had undergone constant change, and the shifts in the industry made it clear that we needed to unionize,” says Thalia Nalapraya, Production Coordinator. “It was a heartbreaking experience to see my colleagues laid off from projects without any safety net. Now that we have ratified our contract, I feel so proud and grateful — to the organizing committee who guided us through the Union vote, the Negotiations Committee for taking the seat at the table and setting the foundations for future negotiations, and the production workers at DreamWorks, Disney, Nickelodeon, and others who unionized before us. We wouldn’t have gotten here without learning from their experiences.”
The ratification marks another major organizing victory for animation production workers. Late last year, DreamWorks Remote artists and production workers on the show Ted also celebrated successful NLRB election victories to unionize with The Animation Guild and The Editors Guild; they are now negotiating their respective contracts.