In a press release yesterday, DGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, Teamsters and AMPTP announced a short-term agreement to adjust COVID-19 safety protocols that consider vaccines and current scientific understanding of the virus’ transmission.
Fully vaccinated cast and crew will notice changes to outdoor masking requirements and updated mealtime protocols. And yes, productions can require vaccinations for cast and crew in Zone A.
With an eye on COVID-19 developments like the rates of transmission, vaccination and the Delta variant, studios and guilds will craft new protocols or decide to extend these on October 1, 2021.
Unionized productions have been expected to be following the Return to Work protocols published on September 21, 2020 by an unprecedented collaboration between unions and studios.
Pressure on the industry this past 16 months has been felt primarily by the non-union freelancers. Los Angeles has the largest percentage of creative freelancers when compared to the top 15 largest metropolitan cities in the US according to analysis by Fiverr International Ltd. In the pandemic, with limited employment opportunities and strained finances, many freelancers found themselves in difficult situations.
While rigidly enforceable OSHA standards are usually adhered to, compliance as a whole is costly and tempting to skirt. Do you feel you worked in an unsafe environment? Were you fired for refusing to work in an unsafe environment? If you have concerns about the risks you faced in the workplace our experienced legal team knows the law and can help you understand your rights. Please call the labor & employment lawyers of Lavi & Ebrahimian, LLP at (310) 861-2797 for a free initial consultation.