Following a groundswell across the provincial industry in B.C., a group of workers at Titmouse Vancouver have voted in favour of unionizing.

In total, 87% of workers participated in the vote, with 98% voting in favour of joining The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 938.

According to IATSE, the move represents the first time an animation studio in Canada has unionized. Titmouse employs around 700 workers across three studios in L.A., New York and Vancouver. Its credits include CBS All Access’ Star Trek: Lower Decks, Netflix’s The Midnight Gospel and Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy of Adventures.

“There has been enthusiasm in Vancouver to form an animation union for years. This overwhelming mandate from Titmouse workers is part of a groundswell across our industry,” said Vanessa Kelly, media spokesperson for The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 938.

The discussion around unionization for animation workers has gathered momentum in recent years as the provincial animation sector has expanded.

In 2016, the issue of employee rights came under the microscope when a group of 30 employees working at Nitrogen Studios signed a letter alleging they had been pressured to work unpaid overtime while working on animated comedy Sausage Party. Almost three years later, in March 2019, Nitrogen Studios was forced to pay the overtime due to the 30 employees by the B.C. Employment Standards Branch.

In July 2019, IATSE stepped up its involvement in the unionization discussion in B.C.’s animation sector, striking a strategic alliance with grassroots group Art Babbitt Appreciation Society (ABAS) to advocate for enhanced rights for workers. When Vancouver VFX studio MPC shuttered in December, ABAS and IATSE gave free legal support to workers who had lost their jobs as a result of the closure.

For Titmouse workers, the next step will see them working with IATSE to develop a first collective agreement, according to a statement issued by IATSE.