34°05′54″N 118°21′29″W / 34.098266°N 118.357976°WThe Motion Picture Editors Guild (MPEG; IATSE Local 700) is the guild that represents freelance and staff motion picture and television editors and other post-production professionals and story analysts throughout the United States. The Motion Picture Editors Guild (Union Local 700) is a part of the 500 affiliated local unions of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), a national labor organization with 104,000-plus members. There are more than 6,000 members of the Editors Guild.
The MPEG negotiates collective bargaining agreements (union contracts) with producers and major motion picture movie studios[1] and enforces existing agreements with employers involved in post-production. The MPEG provides assistance for securing better working conditions, including but salary, medical benefits, safety (particularly "turnaround time") and artistic (assignment of credit) concerns.
On April 12, 1937, the US Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the National Labor Relations Act.[2]
On May 20, 1937, the Society of Motion Picture Film Editors[2] was founded by I. James Wilkinson (sound editor), Ben Lewis (film editor) and Philip Cahn (film editor),[2] when film editors earned a mere $100 per week.[citation needed]
On June 7 1937, membership totaled 571, men and women, as picture editors, sound editors, assistants, apprentices and librarians.[2]
In 1943, film editors and assistant editors are offered their own local by the IATSE. Many Society members sought to align themselves with this larger national organization, hoping for greater negotiating clout. The editors, assistant editors, and sound and music editors voted to join IATSE.