Post-production crew members at the CBS show The Amazing Race have unionized with the Motion Picture Editors Guild.
The editorial crew members gained voluntary recognition from the series producers, Worldrace Productions, after an arbitrator confirmed a majority of members’ support for unionization on Sept. 23. The contract was finalized Wednesday and the crew voted to ratify the agreement Thursday, making it effective that day.
Up to 30 editors, assistant editors and transcribers will be covered under this agreement with the IATSE local, which includes health and pension benefits retroactive to the beginning of work on the current season, as well as immediate wage increases of up to 80 percent of base pay for lower-paid crew members and annual increases. All employees will receive vacation and holiday pay, which amounts to an 8 percent raise, according to the union.
The push for unionization came amid the writers’ and actors’ strikes and as the competitive reality show moved to a 90-minute format for the first time this fall. The 35th season of The Amazing Race premiered Wednesday. The Editors Guild has also been working to unionize more crew members in the non-fiction space, including working on joint campaign with the Writers Guild of America East at the documentary production company Story Syndicate.
The contract for The Amazing Race crew members was modeled after the agreement won by the editorial crew of Survivor, which received union recognition after a strike against Mark Burnett Productions in 2014.
“We appreciate the speed and professionalism with which Worldrace Productions and CBS moved to negotiate a fair deal for this crew,” said Cathy Repola, national executive director of the Motion Picture Editors Guild. “We’re proud to now represent this award-winning editorial team. We look forward to the show’s continued success and to a healthy working partnership.”
