Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1542912
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND? I'm a New York-born Animator and Storyboard Artist. I've been working in animation for close to 20 years, primarily in children's preschool television. Before joining TAG, I worked at Little Airplane, Curious Pictures, and CBS. At Titmouse NYC, my colleagues and I worked to flip the shop and chartered the first union studio outside of L.A. County. I'm a huge fan of animation, film, and comics as unique and compelling storytelling mediums. TAG'S LATEST CONTRACT NEGOTIATION ADDED BEREAVEMENT LEAVE BENEFITS. WHY DID YOU JOIN THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AND WHAT ARE YOUR DUTIES? After our union win at Titmouse NYC , I was compelled to join the board because I wanted representation for individuals outside of L. A . County who are new to the Animation Guild but still wish to participate. As TAG expands across the country, it's our responsibility, as board members, to ensure that all our members are represented, heard, informed, and engaged. Our membership is more diverse than ever, and we deserve the tools to engage with our Union. I hope to foster that engagement. As an Executive Board member, my duty is to review reports from staff and organizers to understand the health and direction of our Union. I also introduce, discuss, and vote on proposals brought forth by the board, TAG staff, and members. Finally, I am tasked with attending, to my ability, TAG and IATSE events and trainings to help make me a stronger representative for our members. WHAT'S A FUN FACT ABOUT YOU? My wife and I run a Great British Baking Show fantasy league. Every year, players draft teams of bakers from the show and score points based on their performance. We're now in our seventh season. It's a real highlight of our year and a highly anticipated event for our players. their intent to unionize with TAG with a majority "yes" vote with the National Labor Relations Board. The WDAS and DWA victories establish a path forward for collective bargaining by other remote workers employed at TAG signatory studios. WHY DOES IT MATTER TO YOU? If you work for a studio with a TAG contract, but you live outside L.A. County and that studio does not recognize its remote workers under the contract, you are not guaranteed the same fair treatment, sustainable working conditions, and benefits as those members working in-studio. This is why TAG continues to work to organize remote employees throughout the U.S.. If you are a remote worker at a TAG signatory studio and want to organize, reach out to organize@tag839.org. Learn more about remote work at animationguild.org/remote-work. Did you know that the 2024-2027 Animation Guild Master Agreement added bereavement leave benefits? Article 29 states that in the event of the death of a "family member" of a regularly scheduled employee, the employee shall be allowed up to three days of paid bereavement leave. For employees working on an hourly or daily basis, a day of bereavement leave pay shall be equal to eight hours' pay at the employee's straight time hourly rate. For weekly employees (including "on call" employees), a day of bereavement leave pay shall be equal to one-fifth (1/5th) of the employee's weekly rate under the minimum wage scales. You can learn more about bereavement leave, as well as family and personal leave, at animationguild.org/benefits/family-personal-leave. NEW BENEFIT: BEREAVEMENT LEAVE SPRING 2026 15 T H E L O C A L