IATSE Workers Stand Up for Fair Conditions in ‘CoComelon: The Melon Patch’
Crew members have walked off the California set of CoComelon: The Melon Patch, citing multiple labor disputes stemming from deteriorating working conditions. The action took place amid ongoing concerns over fair wages and benefits.
In a social media post on Wednesday, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) stated, “Rather than provide fair wages and benefits to the crew, the producer is trying to hire scabs for the production that’s shooting in Sun Valley, Calif.”
CoComelon: The Melon Patch is a live-action series and a spinoff of the original CoComelon. While many animated series under the CoComelon brand on Netflix fall under IATSE’s animation agreement, this live-action production has sparked particular controversy.
The strike commenced on Wednesday, marking the seventh day of a planned 16-day shoot. Although the production has attempted to replace the striking crew, these efforts have reportedly been largely unsuccessful. A source indicated that a gaffer from Local 80 joined the picket line instead of reporting for work.
Launched last year, The Melon Patch stars Allie Rivera Quiñonez as preschool teacher Ms. Appleberry. Additionally, a feature-length CoComelon film from Universal Pictures is scheduled for release in February 2027. Currently, Netflix streams other spin-offs, including CoComelon Lane and Blippi. Next year, the original CoComelon animated series is set to transition from Netflix to Disney+.
