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Are You On the List? Hollywood Crew Members Fear Roster Crackdown (Exclusive)
Thousands of IATSE crew members in Hollywood have been warned they could be struck off the Industry Experience Roster, a union-administered list that determines priority hiring for freelance crew such as grips, make-up artists and plumbers. The move, disclosed by Contract Services in recent weeks, has alarmed workers because losing roster status can make it far harder to secure union jobs, particularly at a time when the number of US productions is shrinking and work is increasingly moving overseas.
The roster, run by a nonprofit established under industry collective bargaining agreements since 1965, requires members to have worked at least one day on a union project within a three-year eligibility window, in this case between April 2023 and March 2026; a few thousand IATSE members have so far been flagged for potential removal, with roughly 47,000 people across IATSE, Teamsters Local 399, LiUNA Local 724 and Plumbers Local 78 currently on the list. It is the first such removal round since 2022, having been paused during the difficult period following the writers' and actors' strikes. IATSE reports members worked around 78.9 million hours in 2025, down nearly 36% from 122.9 million in 2022, while big-budget US productions fell 37% between 2021 and 2025 according to ProdPro; affected workers can dispute their removal, and some union locals are already filing objections on their behalf.
In short
- IATSE flags thousands of crew for removal from Hollywood's hiring priority roster
- First cull since 2022, amid shrinking US production and falling union work hours
- Affected workers can appeal; some union locals are contesting removals
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The roster exists to ensure priority hiring goes to workers actively engaged in the industry, and maintaining eligibility standards—one day's work in three years—is reasonable to preserve the system's integrity. With union work declining sharply, applying consistent criteria ensures scarce opportunities reach workers demonstrating current professional commitment and skills relevant to modern productions.
The case against
The work shortage driving removals stems from industry-wide contraction beyond individual workers' control, with productions moving overseas and big-budget films declining 37%. Removing workers from priority hiring during economic hardship they didn't create permanently seals them out when the market recovers, contradicting the precedent of pausing enforcement during industry disruptions, as occurred during the strikes.
Explained simply
The Industry Experience Roster is a list that determines hiring priority for freelance crew in Hollywood, covering workers such as grips, make-up artists and plumbers. Managed since 1965 by a non-profit organisation established through industry union agreements, it covers members of unions including IATSE. Being on the roster significantly improves a worker's chances of securing union jobs, which are among the most stable and well-paid opportunities available.
To remain on the roster, workers must complete at least one day of work on a union production within any three-year eligibility period. The current window runs from April 2023 to March 2026, and members who have not worked during that time face potential removal. Approximately 47,000 people are currently on the combined roster across multiple unions.
The concern about roster removals is particularly pressing because the film and television industry is contracting significantly. Hours worked by union crew fell by more than a third between 2022 and 2025, whilst the number of big-budget productions in the United States dropped 37% over the same period. Losing roster status is far more damaging at a time when fewer jobs are available and work is increasingly moving overseas.
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