The American Federation of Musicians, Local 802, has reached an agreement with Little Airplane Prods., producers of the Emmy-winning animated preschool series The Wonder Pets! Earlier this week, the union filed unfair labor charges against the production company when it replaced musicians who demanded a union contract.
The Wonder Pets! musicians will now enjoy the benefits and protections of a union contract. The agreement also extends to Hootenanny, the company that engages the musicians for The Wonder Pets!
‘The AFM, Local 802 is satisfied with the agreement and we look forward to moving ahead,’ says Mary Landolfi, president of AFM, Local 802.
Josh Selig, president of Little Airplane Prods., comments, ‘We are pleased to put this issue behind us and we look forward to continuing to do what we do best ‘ making great pre-school television with the most talented and most creative artists in the business.’
According to the union, the musicians employed by Little Airplane requested last summer in writing that their employer negotiate a contract with the union. A negotiation session was held on May 14 at Local 802 headquarters on West 48th Street to clarify a number of economic proposals currently on the table. The musicians, members of the American Federation of Musicians, say they were then replaced without notice. Local 802 planned to file further charges if Little Airplane didn’t return to the negotiating table.
