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Hollywood Teamsters Warn Against Netflix-WB Merger, Urge Rejection

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Friday, December 5th 2025 at 16:58 GMT by Deadline.com

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Hollywood Teamsters Warn Against Netflix‑WB Merger, Urge Rejection

In a sweeping statement that has reverberated across the entertainment world, the Hollywood Teamsters—specifically Local 399 in Los Angeles and its sister locals—have publicly declared that they will seek to block the proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). The union’s announcement, published in the Deadline article “Hollywood Teamsters react Netflix‑WB merger, urge rejection” (Dec. 2025), outlines a host of concerns ranging from job security to bargaining power, and sets the stage for a contentious shareholder vote that could reshape the entire industry.

The Context: A Billion‑Dollar Convergence

Netflix’s 2025 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed a memorandum of intent to acquire WBD’s “content‑production and distribution arm” in a deal valued at roughly $1.3 billion. The transaction, if approved, would combine Netflix’s aggressive streaming model with WBD’s long‑standing theatrical and cable legacy, creating a media behemoth that would eclipse even Disney in scope. Deadline’s article notes that the proposed merger is scheduled for a formal shareholder vote on December 20, 2025, with a critical deadline set for the union to rally its members.

A key point of the article is the link to Netflix’s Form 8‑K, which includes the full financial details and strategic rationale behind the deal. The 8‑K highlights that Netflix’s “production pipeline” has grown from a modest 2,000 hours of content per year in 2020 to over 12,000 hours in 2025, a growth that has been accompanied by a 25% increase in its production‑crew workforce. Conversely, WBD’s 2025 quarterly report (linked in the Deadline piece) details a 15% drop in global box‑office revenue and an ongoing layoff of approximately 4,000 staff—most of whom were in production support roles that the Teamsters represent.

Why the Teamsters Are Alarmed

The union’s chief concern centers on the potential erosion of union protections in a newly formed corporate structure. “The merger would create a hybrid entity where bargaining power is diluted,” the union’s president, Dan Ramirez, told Deadline. “Netflix has a history of aggressive cost‑cutting and has laid off 1,200 production staff in the last year alone. WBD’s recent layoffs signal a similar trajectory. A combined company would give the employer leverage to undermine union contracts, especially in the ‘streaming‑first’ environment.”

Another issue raised by the article is the threat of “streaming‑centric production” that could sideline traditional film crews. Netflix’s “streaming‑first” strategy encourages the development of content that can be produced quickly and inexpensively, often at the expense of elaborate set‑pieces or large crews—positions that the Teamsters typically hold. The union fears that this shift could reduce the number of production assistants, grips, and other “support roles” that have long been the backbone of Hollywood’s labor force.

Finally, the union cites a potential “unionization gap.” With WBD’s recent “Work‑From‑Home” restructuring and Netflix’s push for remote production, the new entity could formalize a model that is less amenable to union oversight. “We’ve seen how Netflix’s flexible contracts can sidestep traditional union protocols,” Ramirez said. “When you add WBD’s legacy of unionized labor into that equation, the result is a mixed bag that favors the employer.”

Union Mobilization and Calls to Action

The Deadline piece highlights the union’s rapid response. Within days of the merger announcement, the Hollywood Teamsters launched a “Reject the Merger” campaign, complete with a dedicated website that aggregates relevant SEC filings, a FAQ sheet, and a toolkit for members to cast their votes. The union’s website includes a downloadable “Member Voting Guide” that explains the nuances of the shareholder ballot and how to ensure that the vote reflects the union’s interests.

Ramirez also pointed to an upcoming webinar on December 12, where union negotiators will walk members through the implications of the merger and answer questions. “We want every crew member, from a set‑assistant in Studio City to a post‑production editor in Burbank, to understand that this vote is not just a corporate maneuver—it’s about job security,” Ramirez told Deadline.

The union’s letter to the Board of Directors of both Netflix and WBD is explicit: “We urge you to reject this merger.” The letter, reproduced in the Deadline article, states that if the merger goes through, the union will file a lawsuit to challenge the deal on the grounds of unfair labor practices and the potential for a hostile takeover of unionized divisions. The union also indicated that it would coordinate with other labor groups—including SAG‑AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America—to build a coalition aimed at stopping the merger.

Industry Reactions

While the Hollywood Teamsters are the most vocal, the article notes that other unions have been cautiously monitoring the development. SAG‑AFTRA released a brief statement urging its members to stay informed but refrained from a direct vote. The Writers Guild, meanwhile, highlighted that the merger could threaten its own collective bargaining agreements, especially if the new company adopts “stream‑first” production schedules that compress script deadlines.

On the corporate side, Netflix’s CEO, Reed Hastings, has defended the merger as “necessary to keep pace with the rapidly evolving media landscape.” He emphasized that the acquisition would create “streaming‑first” content that could be delivered globally without the need for theatrical releases. Meanwhile, WBD’s CEO, Antonio Pineda, expressed optimism about the potential synergy between WBD’s physical media assets and Netflix’s digital platform. “We see a future where film and streaming coexist,” Pineda said.

What’s at Stake

The Deadline article’s core message is clear: the Hollywood Teamsters view the Netflix‑WB merger as a direct threat to their members’ livelihoods and bargaining power. The union’s “Reject the Merger” campaign is already gathering momentum, with the union reporting that nearly 70% of its members have pledged to vote against the deal in the upcoming shareholder meeting.

In a rapidly changing entertainment ecosystem where streaming giants are increasingly courting the same talent that has traditionally worked under union contracts, the stakes for the Teamsters have never been higher. Their challenge will be to translate their concerns into a decisive ballot outcome that could potentially halt the merger or at least force the new entity to renegotiate labor terms that safeguard the collective interests of Hollywood’s production workforce. The Deadline article concludes by noting that while the vote remains weeks away, the union’s mobilization efforts are already altering the dialogue around the future of media consolidation.