By Scott George
When I stepped into this role at the end of January, I had already spent years working at Local 700 and knew something about our proud history and powerful sense of purpose.
What I didn’t expect was that my first few weeks on the job would be shaped by a crisis. The devastating January fires in Los Angeles left a scar on the city and directly impacted many of our members. Homes were lost. Lives were upended. The disaster wasn’t abstract; it was personal.
And yet, amid the destruction, I witnessed something extraordinary: Editors Guild members stepping up for one another. Union kin organizing donation drives. Volunteers offering temporary housing. Colleagues helping colleagues pick through the ashes and begin again. In moments like that, we are reminded of the deepest truth about our Guild: That solidarity is not just a slogan. It’s a lifeline.
I saw it in action, and it was something I will never forget.
Now, halfway through the year, I want to share some reflections on where we’ve been and where we’re headed. Because while we’ve had challenges, we’ve also had real victories — and more importantly, we’re laying the groundwork for a stronger, more responsive Guild.
One of the biggest wins this year came not on a picket line, but in the statehouse. After months of lobbying efforts from our coalition and industry allies, including Local 700 staff and members, the California legislature passed a package of tax incentives in June designed to keep the state competitive and hopefully keep our people working. These incentives are a critical tool for rebuilding our post-strikes job base and getting the industry back to work in our sound stages, edit bays, animation desks, and ADR booths. They send a message: California is open for business and ready to work.
But building strength isn’t just about legislation. It’s about listening. That’s why we this month held a Local 700-wide town hall. It’s also why we’ve launched a series of classification-specific town halls, beginning with our animation and sound communities.
These meetings have been a chance to hear directly from you — about what’s working, what isn’t, and what you want to see from your Guild. The feedback has been candid, and in many cases, inspiring. You want a union that communicates more, fights harder, and makes it easier for members to raise their hands and be heard. And that’s exactly the direction we’re moving.
So what’s next?
In the second half of the year, we’re doubling down on building a Guild that is more engaged, more inclusive, and more powerful — member by member, classification by classification, shop by shop.
That starts with organizing. As you may know, we’ve hired a new organizer in the Eastern Region, Micah Landau, to help bolster our national presence and expand our footprint in areas where our work is growing but still underrepresented. Organizing isn’t just about bringing new members into the fold; it’s about expanding our leverage, enforcing our contracts, and protecting our standards.
Contract enforcement is another top priority. Our field reps continue to work hard for you behind the scenes. But we know there’s more to do. That’s why we’re launching a new Shop Steward Program this year. The goal is simple: create clear, accessible channels for reporting violations and making sure your rights are honored on the job. Shop stewards will be trained, supported, and empowered so they can serve as on-the-ground resources in real time.
Education is key to all of this. We’ll be hosting more “Know Your Rights” sessions in the months ahead, not just as PowerPoint presentations, but as real conversations with real-world application. We want every member to know what protections you’re entitled to and how to use them when it matters most.
And behind the scenes, we’re strengthening our administrative infrastructure to support this vision. We’re refining internal systems, investing in communications, and working to ensure that your Guild is accessible, responsive, and ready to serve.
All of this — every hire, every town hall, every fight for better working conditions — is grounded in our core values. Solidarity. Accountability. Collective power. We’re not just defending the status quo. We’re building something stronger: a more unified, more inclusive, more member-driven Guild.
We know the industry continues to shift beneath our feet. But we’re not waiting for someone else to solve our problems. We’re organizing. We’re enforcing. We’re investing in our people. And we’re reminding ourselves every day that our strength comes from the ground up.
So to every member who’s spoken up at a town hall, filed a grievance, helped a colleague, or simply stayed engaged during a tough year: Thank you. Your voice, your work, and your solidarity matter.
We’ve got more to do — and together, we will.
Scott George is the National Executive Director of Local 700, IATSE.
