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In a significant setback for IATSE’s initiative to organize the Canadian animation industry, employees at Vancouver’s Kickstart Entertainment have voted unanimously to withdraw from the Canadian Animation Guild (CAG) Local 938. The exact number of eligible voters at the studio remains undisclosed.

This decision is particularly surprising given that Kickstart employees had voted to unionize just last year. In a press statement, Kickstart explained that the workers’ choice to leave the union stemmed from a desire to “remove barriers to communication, restore workplace fluidity, and reinforce a collaborative environment that has been a cornerstone of the studio’s culture.”

The unionization movement on Canada’s West Coast began in 2020 with Titmouse Vancouver, which led to the establishment of CAG 938. Following this, Wildbrain, Kickstart, and Icon Creative Studio joined the movement, making this recent development a notable setback. CAG president Eddy Pedreira shared with Kidscreen, which first reported the news:

 

The Guild firmly believes that the decision to join or remain in a union should be a democratic process. While not every vote will align with our preferences, this is the essence of workplace democracy, and we will always uphold that principle. Like any other workplace, Kickstart is influenced by market dynamics and leadership choices. It’s unfortunate that the contract we were drafting with the Kickstart bargaining committee will remain in limbo for now, but should these workers reconsider, they will always find a welcoming space in the Canadian Animation Guild.

 

Both employee representatives and Kickstart’s management expressed their commitment to collaboration in their comments to Kidscreen. Employee representative Byron Leboe stated, “We’re dedicated to creating a positive, transparent, and supportive work environment where we can grow, collaborate, and thrive together.”

Meanwhile, Kickstart’s president Heather Puttock emphasized, “Our employees are at the heart of Kickstart Entertainment, and their voices shape the studio’s future. We are committed to ensuring that every team member feels valued, supported, and empowered to excel in an environment built on trust and collaboration.”

Kickstart is a service studio specializing in children’s animated series. Their notable productions include: Barney’s World, StarBeam (Netflix), Deepa & Anoop (Netflix), Brown & Friends (Netflix), My First Barbie (YouTube), American Girl (YouTube), Itsy Mitsy (Prime Video), and Lucas the Spider (Max).