Crew walks out on ‘CoComelon: The Melon Patch,’ citing labor conditions

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees union is on strike against the show “CoComelon: The Melon Patch” due to disagreements over pay and working conditions.

The union for crew members on the live-action YouTube series stated that workers are facing excessive hours and the production lacks enough staff.

The 22-person crew recently voted to be represented by the IATSE union for contract negotiations, but management has declined to negotiate with them, according to the workers.

According to a statement from IATSE, the team working on this project experienced difficult working conditions typical of non-union productions. As a result, they came together to advocate for fair pay and standard benefits when the second season began.

The work stoppage started mid-week, right in the middle of filming the show. Workers are now protesting outside the Stage This studio in Sun Valley.

I reached out to Moonbug Entertainment, the creators of CoComelon, but they haven’t shared any information about this yet.

Hollywood Inc.

The actors’ union and film and TV studios have reached a preliminary agreement after restarting talks last week.

Launched in 2025, “The Melon Patch” is a new series based on the popular YouTube show “CoComelon.” “CoComelon” has become a favorite with young children and families, thanks to its colorful 3D animation. In addition to “The Melon Patch,” the franchise also includes the Netflix series “CoComelon Lane,” and a full-length movie is planned for release by Universal Pictures in early 2027.

Workers on multiple past “CoComelon” projects, including the Netflix series, have successfully formed a union and gained coverage under an IATSE contract.

Chris Roberts, who was an art director for the first season of the show, says he was offered less pay for the second season. He points out the irony of protesting for a company that creates children’s programming while struggling to provide for his own family, especially since the production isn’t covered by a union.

Roberts, an IATSE member since 2016, expressed disappointment about receiving a lower salary for the current season compared to the first, especially considering the reduced crew size and increased workload, which makes it difficult to support his family.

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2026-05-08 01:01