Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1486263
Producers Roundtable Health and Safety in the Industry S AG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland was a featured panelist at TheGrill Producers Roundtable on Oct. 12. Hosted by The Wrap, TheGrill's two-day symposium brings together industry professionals to discuss industry issues. This year's roundtable focused on different issues, including health and safety and the pandemic's continued effect on productions. Crabtree-Ireland reflected on how the early collective response from major entertainment unions and the AMPTP have benefited productions over the past few years. "I think we can agree that the most important thing we did was find a way to get on the same page about restarting production." said Crabtree-Ireland, in reference to the 2020 Return to Work Agreement. "If negotiations had been done separately, we would have different rules for different types of workers, and I think the industry would have been in chaos." He also spoke at length about the continued impact of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization on productions and workers across the country. While praising the unions' and studios' early response to the news via coverage for emergency travel, he noted how it was important to be proactive in addressing other concerns, particularly those surrounding work taking place in states with restrictive reproductive health care laws. "[I know] that there are some companies who are scared of being attacked by politicians, but as an industry, we do have to be willing to stand up … for [our workers]," he said. Other featured panelists included Producers Guild of America Executive Director Susan Sprung; Hello Sunshine President, Film and Television Lauren Neustadter; Madison Wells Media Head of TV and Film Rachel Shane; and producers Sera Gamble (You), Warren Littlefield (The Handmaid's Tale) and Tazbah Chavez (Reservation Dogs). Scan for TheGrill Producers Roundtable. For Members COURTESY OF THE WRAP