IATSE Ends Strike Against TNT’s 'Great Escape'

5:50 PM PDT 6/9/2012 by Jonathan Handel

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The union and the producer reached an agreement after just seven hours.

It took a bit longer than a Houdini act, but not much: after seven hours, IATSE called off its strike against Profiles Entertainment’s The Great Escape, a new TNT reality show about ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges. The union and the production entity, TGE Productions, have reached an agreement, IATSE and the company said.

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•Labor

An actual contract, embodying pension, health and working conditions, will now be negotiated, but the union was comfortable enough to end the walkout.

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IATSE International representative Vanessa Holtgrewe said, “I'm happy to see the crew of this high-octane show return to their equally fast-paced jobs with the security of health benefits and safer working conditions.”

The feet had hit the street Saturday morning, with a strike declared just hours after IATSE labeled Profiles Entertainment an unfair employer for allegedly obstructing the union’s organizing efforts.

The IATSE statements Saturday morning did not describe what the producers had done, and the company could not be reached. IATSE represents TV and motion picture crew members.

The Great Escape,TNT’s first unscripted-competition series, is from the same producers as The Amazing Race, Bertram Van Munster and Elise Doganieri. The shows are produced through separate subsidiaries.

Other producers of The Great Escape include Imagine TV, Fox TV Studios, and creators Justin Hochberg and Charlie Ebersol, and the host is NFL on-air personality Rich Eisen. The first episode airs June 24.

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Although the union statements list the various individuals and entities, the unfair declaration and strike were specified only against Profiles Entertainment. The picket line was at Placerita Power Plant, current location of the show.

Bookmark The Hollywood Reporter’s Labor Page for the most in-depth coverage of entertainment unions and guilds.

Email: jhandel@att.net

Twitter: @jhandel