Local News in Brief : Craft Unions OK New Film-TV Pact

The 24 local creative crafts unions working in motion picture and television production in Hollywood Tuesday accepted by a narrow margin a new two-year contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The agreement was approved by 128 delegates voting yes, with 92 voting no.

Fewer than half of the 19,329 workers eligible to vote cast ballots. Of those, 5,046 members of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees voted no, and 4,934 voted yes. But under the unions’ system, it is the delegate votes that count, and the largest local in the international voted for the agreement.

The agreement provides for a 3% raise in each of the first two years of the contract, retroactive to Aug. 1, 1988, with the second increase due Aug. 1, 1989. Current health benefits will not be affected, according to a statement by the union. Pensions will be increased, according to producers’ spokesman Herb Steinberg.