Harley Quinn, Batman, Cartoon Network animation staffs vote to unionize

Production staff — 66 employees from Warner Bros. Animation and 22 from Cartoon Network — filed a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations board yesterday. The group is seeking Warner Bros.’ voluntary recognition of the union as a part of the Animation Guild.

It follows an upheaval-filled year for Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network were both affected by a massive round of layoffs, before being put under the same division. Warner Bros. Discovery removed a large portion of its animated streaming content from HBO Max. This was often done without notifying the original creators.

Warner Bros. Discovery recognizes the union, either voluntarily or by forcing the National Labor Relations board to intercede, the WBA/Cartoon Network group would become one of a number of animation shops — including Rick and Morty, The Simpsons” Family Guy — currently bargaining for their first union contract with the Animation Guild.

“Although many might not think it, production is a specialized skill; we might not be artists or writers, but what we bring to the table goes beyond traditional creativity and gets content on the air,” Hannah Ferenc, a production manager at WBA, said in the organization’s news release. “Having lived through the existing state of the animation industry for the past seven years, I want to make sure that not only our current workers, but all those who choose to join us in the future, can feel secure in following their passion by earning livable wages and being treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

They have collectively worked on such shows as Harley Quinn, Teen Titans Go!, Craig of CreekThe upcoming Batman: The Caped CrusaderThe following are some examples of how to get started: Adventure Time with Fionna and Cake.