After little more than a year of union representation via IATSE Local 938, employees of Vancouver-based Kickstart Entertainment have changed course, and have unanimously voted to opt out of the Canadian Animation Guild. 

The decision to leave was recognized by the British Columbia Labour Relations Board (BCLRB) in late January, and was prompted by the desire to “remove barriers to communication, restore workplace fluidity and reinforce a collaborative environment that has been a defining element of the studio’s culture,” according to a release from Kickstart issued in the first week of February.

The animation studio values “an open, collaborative culture where employees and leadership work together directly,” added Barry Karnowski, senior CG supervisor and employee representative. “This decision was made collectively by us, the employees, to strengthen that relationship and continue shaping the work environment that best supports our team at Kickstart.”

Speaking to Kidscreen about the Kickstart employees’ collective change of heart, IATSE Local 938 president Eddy Pedreira said: “The Guild always maintains that the decision to join or maintain a union is—and should be—a democratic one. Working under these principles means that not every vote is going to go your way, but that is the nature of workplace democracy, and it’s something we will always respect.”

Like many other entertainment studios, Kickstart is navigating a challenging few years marked by industry downturn and headwinds. “When organizing, we stress that a union can bring you benefits, wage improvements and increased protections, but it cannot alter the structure of how a company is managed.” Pedreira explained.

“As [with] any other workplace, Kickstart is impacted by market forces and leadership decisions. It’s unfortunate that the contract we had begun drafting with the Kickstart bargaining committee will remain a draft for the moment, but should these workers come to feel differently, they will always have a home in [the Canadian Animation Guild].”

Meanwhile, Byron Leboe, senior art director and also an employee representative, said this move shows the employees’ trust in Kickstart’s leadership and each other. “We’re committed to fostering a positive, transparent and supportive work environment where we can grow, collaborate and thrive together.” 

Kickstart animation workers joined the union in January 2024 (it was the third Canadian animation studio to join IATSE Local 938, following WildBrain and Titmouse). When WildBrain workers were first aiming to form a union in September 2023, IATSE international representative William Gladman told Kidscreen that the impact of the then-recent strikes, stagnant wages and the higher cost of living was pushing Vancouver’s animation workers to unionize.

At the time, IATSE’s international VP and director of Canadian affairs said via a statement that “bargaining strong collective agreements is what we do best,” and that the Guild was “looking forward to a fulsome bargaining process with this company.”

It’s unclear as to how much of that process was underway beyond beginning drafting a contract when Kickstart employees voted to exit the union. Still, in a statement, Kickstart president Heather Puttock echoed the sentiments of the employee reps, with collaboration between management and staff as a central theme.

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

一With files from Sadhana Bharanidharan

Pictured is Kickstart special StarBeam: Beaming in the New Year.