The union representing more than 60,000 film and television crew members plans to begin a strike if a last-minute deal does not meet their requirements for safe working conditions. International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees International (IATSE) President Matthew Loeb said Wednesday the strike would start on Oct. 18 unless negotiations are successful before the deadline. “However, the pace of bargaining doesn’t reflect any sense of urgency,” Loeb said in a statement (pdf). “Without an end date, we could keep talking forever. Our members deserve to have their basic needs addressed now.” The statement noted the agreement addresses “core issues, such as reasonable rest periods, meal breaks, and a living wage for those on the bottom of the wage scale.” More than 98 percent of voting union members supported the strike. Voter turnout included 90 percent of the union’s members. The IATSE reported the pending strike has led to some …