After years of trying, the Animation Guild has finalized a new contract covering animators employed at Rough Draft Studios, the Glendale-based animation house best known for its work on Futurama and The Simpsons Movie. The union, IATSE Local 839, hasn’t had a collective bargaining agreement with the company since its contract for The Simpsons Movie expired nearly 10 years ago. An attempt to organize animators there failed in 2010 when an NLRB-sanctioned representational vote went down to defeat.

The new contract covers animators working on animated feature films and TV series.

“Our talks with Rough Draft were smooth and productive,” said guild business rep Steve Hulett, “and there were no major issues that slowed down our bargaining. I can tell you that we’re very pleased to come together on a deal. Rough Draft has been one of the premiere animation houses in Los Angeles for years, and reaching agreement on the studio’s future productions means a lot to the guild and its members. Our officers and executive board members are very happy Rough Draft is signing a contract.”