Saturday Night Live VFX Workers Unanimously Ratify Historic First Union Contract
As seen on IATSE.net
Visual Effects workers at Saturday Night Live (SNL) unanimously ratified their first union contract in July 2025. All fifteen eligible voters voted YES, marking a significant milestone for VFX artists and leads at the legendary sketch comedy show, now celebrating its 50th season.
After successfully organizing in October 2024, contract negotiations began in April 2025. Initially, management did not provide sufficient dates to conclude negotiations before the season ended. Demonstrating strong solidarity, workers signed a petition and wore union shirts on set to underscore the urgency of reaching a fair agreement. As a result, management responded swiftly, and negotiations concluded efficiently in May, ahead of the season finale’s production.
The first-ever agreement brings significant improvements, including:
- Established minimum wage scales
- Secured ongoing healthcare benefits
- Annuity contributions
- “Kill fees” for artists hired for projects canceled before completion
- A robust grievance process
- Critical AI and outsourcing protections
“The VFX team is proud to be officially part of IATSE,” said Hannah S. Kim, one of the lead organizers. ” We are excited to join the large union presence at SNL and hope this inspires the rest of the VFX and animation industries across the country to follow suit. I personally am so happy to see my fellow artists be protected under a union, and look forward to the future of this team under a bargaining unit.”