A nationwide strike by Hollywood film and television crews was averted on Oct. 16 after the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees International (IATSE) union reached an agreement with studio producers on a new three-year contract. The strike was planned amid disputes with studio producers about working conditions, pay, and schedules, with many members of the union claiming that working conditions are poor, workdays are long with few breaks, and hourly rates are below $18. In a statement, IATSE said it had completed marathon negotiations with studios and entertainment companies Saturday to reach a three-year agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) for The Basic and Videotape Agreements, affecting 40,000 film and television workers represented by 13 West Coast IATSE local unions. The last-minute deal avoided a strike by thousands of off-screen workers that would have brought production on movies and television shows to a halt. IATSE said in its statement that the proposed contract addresses key issues such as reasonable rest periods; meal breaks; a living wage …