Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1446450
34 KEYFRAME GROWING STRONG AT AGE 70, TAG CONTINUES TO SHOW ITS MIGHT, ORGANIZING TITMOUSE NEW YORK AND SETTING THE STAGE FOR EXPANSION AROUND THE COUNTRY IN THE DECADES TO COME. TAG neared the end of its seventh decade during unprecedented times. A pandemic was barreling toward its third year, hampering progress in many areas around the country. Local 839, on the other hand, was growing strong. Our membership was at an all-time high, our mobilization efforts were expanding exponentially, and we organized our first animation studio outside Los Angeles County since our charter in 1952. With the support of TAG Business Representative Steve Kaplan and Organizer Ben Speight, an overwhelming supermajority of more than 90% of the workers at Titmouse New York signed representation cards. As a result, the studio voluntarily recognized the unit, which was certified by a neutral arbitrator on January 7, 2022. "It is wild to look back on where I was two years ago, making pennies, struggling to break in and knowing that if I was to have a stable livelihood in this industry, I'd have to leave everything behind and go west," says Titmouse New York Story Artist T. Curry. This milestone is the beginning of an active nationwide effort to represent animation workers across the United States—from fighting for expanded jurisdiction to helping organize studios in other counties and states. This goal is echoed by Titmouse New York crew members like Background Designer Yves Menshikova who says, "I'm hoping that our victory here will be a catalyst for creating representation for animation workers spanning from coast-to-coast that aims to leave no one behind."