Crew Walks Off West Virginia Set Of Crime Drama ‘The Gun On Second Street’ Over Labor Dispute

A number of technicians have walked off the West Virginia set of the U.S. gun crisis drama The Gun on Second Street after production refused to recognize the crew’s union, IATSE said Thursday.

Per the union, “a clear majority” of the films’ crew has signaled the desire to form a union after a series of labor issues. Crew members have reported below-industry-standard wages and health/retirement benefits and also say they’ve been misclassified as independent contractors.

The Gun on Second Street, which is an independent crime drama written and directed by Rohit Karn Batra, is shooting entirely in the Wheeling, West Virginia area. It is operating under a contract with SAG-AFTRA but not agreements with the DGA, Teamsters or IATSE. The film’s cast includes Tom Arnold, Rumer Willis, Noah Fearnley, Shô Oyamada, Poppy Delevingne, Jack Kesy, and Dianna Agron.

U.S. Congressman Eric Swalwell is an executive producer on the project, as is Sean Penn. IATSE says Swalwell, who represents California’s 14th congressional district, has been made aware of the labor issues on set. Deadline is also reaching out to Swalwell’s office for comment.

Per IATSE, crew members gave a deadline of 10:30 a.m. ET on Thursday for production leadership to engage in talks before going on strike. The international union has also ordered all of its members not to cross the picket line or accept work from the production, should they try to replace striking crew.

“Every production, regardless of budget or political connections, must respect the rights of the people who make film and television possible. The Alliance is prepared to support this crew as they take collective action to secure safe working conditions, fair compensation, proper classification and a voice on the job,” IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb said in a statement Thursday. “These workers deserve the same rights and protections film and tv workers have across the country. I’m proud of this crew for standing together in this moment and fighting for what’s right in the face of tremendous pressure. It is now the producers’ responsibility to meet them at the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith.”