A Union at 9Story!

Times are tough, and our careers are turning into gig work. The best way to improve our working conditions and get the job security and wages we need is through unionization.

Studios in the U.S., where most of our work originates, have been unionized for decades. Meanwhile, in the past five years more than half of animation workers in Vancouver have unionized. That’s because collective action is the key to building a brighter future for an industry that wouldn’t be here without us.

Here’s how you can support:

A Union Means We Have a Seat at the Table

A union is not a new group of people we don’t know coming in between us and our work. It is about balancing power inside of our studio by putting employees from across the company in the room with execs when they make decisions that affect us.

Our Shared Priorities

When we form a union, we gain the power to negotiate for the improvements we all want—better wages, stronger benefits, and fairer working conditions. Many of us at 9Story have shared priorities, and together, we can address the issues that matter most to us.

Job Security & Transparency 
Our time and experience deserve to be valued. We need safeguards—like just cause protection and callback sheets—that protect the positions at the studio that we’ve earned. 

Fair Wages & Regular Increases
As the cost of living increases in Ontario we will be able to negotiate annual wage increases to ensure we can build sustainable careers while doing what we love—without worrying about falling behind. We’ll also have access to financial disclosure from the studio, so we can make sure our proposals are fair while ensuring 9Story remains competitive in the industry.

Training & Improving our Pipeline 
No more reinventing the wheel with every new project. By retaining talent and building on lessons learned from each show, we can reduce unnecessary turnover and create stronger, more efficient teams.

Paid Overtime
No more ghost hours. We can negotiate to ensure there is a clear overtime procedure in place so that no artist feels pressured to work unpaid overtime or miss unreasonable deadlines.

Protection from Outsourcing and AI
As technology evolves and outsourcing becomes a bigger threat in the industry, it’s essential that we have a say in how these changes affect our jobs. These tools and efficiencies should make our jobs easier and not put us out of work. Unionizing ensures we can stand together to protect our work.

Health and Retirement Benefits
Comprehensive benefits are key to making animation a career that supports us now and into the future. With a union, we can negotiate for benefits that are portable, so you don’t have to lose health coverage between contracts. This stability ensures we can focus on our work and plan for the future without unnecessary stress.

Representation and Support
When challenges arise, we won’t have to face them alone. With IATSE’s experience behind us, we’ll have access to shop stewards, union representatives, and legal counsel to ensure our voices are heard and our rights are protected.

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For more details on how our union can help us achieve these things click here. Let us know what’s important for you send us a message.

How We Form Our Union

Forming a union is a straightforward legal process. In Ontario, the steps are:

  1. Sign union support cards – Once 40% or more of the eligible workers sign cards, the union can file an application for certification with the Ontario Labour Relations Board. The company never knows who signed a card.

  2. Vote to certify the union – The Ontario Labour Relations Board facilitates a confidential, online vote. A simple majority (50% +1) wins.

Signing a union card is confidential, and the employer will never know who signed. If you’re interested, contact your union representative Rajean Hoilett (rhoilett@iatse.net) for a private conversation.