IATSE Labor Union / Photo Credit: IATSE
WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL
ALLIANCE OF THEATRICAL STAGE EMPLOYEES? (In the Entertainment industry.)
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What is the International Alliance of Theatrical
Stage Employees?
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage
Employees, or IATSE (full name: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage
Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United
States, Its Territories and Canada), is a labor union representing over 140,000
technicians, artisans and craftspersons in the entertainment industry,
including live theatre, motion picture and television production, and trade
shows. It was awarded Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre in 1993.
IATSE District Map / Photo Credit: IATSE – Peter F. Rippe
Overview
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage
Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United
States, Its Territories and Canada was founded in 1893 when representatives of
stagehands working in eleven cities met in New York and pledged to support each
other's efforts to establish fair wages and working conditions for their
members. The IATSE has evolved since then to embrace the development of new
entertainment mediums, craft expansion, technological innovation and geographic
growth.
Today, IATSE members work in all forms of live
theater, motion picture and television production, trade shows and exhibitions,
television broadcasting, and concerts as well as the equipment and construction
shops that support all these areas of the entertainment industry. The IA
represents virtually all the behind the scenes workers in crafts ranging from
motion picture animator to theater usher.
During a period when private sector union membership
has been in sharp decline the IATSE has continued to grow. Since 1993 the IA's
membership has increased from 74,344 to 140,000 which it attributes to its
willingness to adapt its structure to protect traditional jurisdiction and
accommodate new crafts.
History
1886–1936
In 1886, Union members went on strike in New York
City under the Theatrical Protective Union of New York. After producers filled
the positions of strikers with less skilled strikebreakers, actors refused to
work due to sets falling apart. With the support of the actors behind the
strikers, they succeeded in most of their requests.
In 1893, representatives of stagehands from eleven
cities met in New York to discuss working conditions for their peers. They
vowed to support each other in the effort to create an industry that would
allow for fair wages and better working conditions. On June 17, 1893, the
representatives officially formed the International Alliance of Theatrical
Stage Employees. In 1895, "home rule" was established. The Alliance
defined home rule as "22 New York theatres for New York local members,
Chicago theatres for Chicago (and so forth)... and no other members of locals
allowed to work within the jurisdiction of other locals without (their)
consent."
The Los Angeles Theatrical workers union (which had
independently formed in 1891) joined the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage
Employees union in 1896. By 1898, the IATSE had welcomed two Canadian locals
into the alliance: Montreal Local 56 and Toronto Local 58. In 1902, the
Alliance adopted "International" into its title.
In 1912, the union began a system that allowed
individuals traveling with attractions to send basic information such as the
size and length of time the local crews would be needed ahead to the next
destination. This assured that there would be enough people to staff each
theatre, and helped ensure these were union crews. The system is still in
process today, and is referred to as the "yellow card system."
The IA was quickly becoming the preeminent theatrical
union in North America after the Canadian Department of Labor listed theatrical
locals in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Calgary, Saskatchewan and
Vancouver in 1928.
In June 1933, President Roosevelt signed legislation
into law affecting all US workers – the National Recovery Act, creating the
National Recovery Administration (NRA). The NRA’s first mission was to create a
uniform system of codes to cover all of industry in the United States. For
months, the Alliance participated in hearings to create an industrial code for
the entertainment industry. Eventually, four different codes were established:
Code of Fair Competition for the Motion Picture Industry; Code of Fair
Competition for the Legitimate Full Length Dramatic and Musical Theatrical
Industry; Code of Fair Competition for the Burlesque Theatrical Industry; and
the Code of Fair Competition for the Motion Picture Laboratory Industry. The
NRA shortened working hours to spread the work around, and set the first minimum
wage level for stagehands. In 1938 the Fair Labor Standards Act was passed,
including a provision that required studios to rearrange production schedules
to fit the agreed-upon 44-hour work week (to be reduced to 40 over the
following three years).
1937–1987
In 1940 the Canadian Picture Pioneers organization
was formed, "dedicated to the support and well-being of all members of the
motion picture industry in Canada."
1988–current
On November 6, 1996, the AICP (Association of
Independent Commercial Producers, Inc.) and the IATSE signed the first-ever
Agreement between the two organizations. The Agreement established the wages
and working conditions applicable to motion picture and television production technicians
and artisans employed in the production of television commercials, and was
intended to recognize and address the special needs of the television commercial
production process.
In 1998, the five departments were established:
Stagecraft, Motion Picture and Television Production, Organizing, Trade Show
and Display Work, and Canadian Affairs. In 2011 the Communications Department
was established, and in 2012, the Organizing Department was folded into the
Stagecraft Department, and two new departments were established: Education and
Training, and Broadcast.
In 1999, the IATSE established the IATSE Political
Action Committee, a federal political action committee designed to support
candidates for federal office who promote the interests of the members of the
IATSE and its locals and to support a federal legislative and administrative
agenda to benefit those members.
The Labor Education Assistance Program was launched
in 2009, which would pay tuition for labor studies courses taken by its local
union Officers. Following LEAP, the IA established the Training Trust to
provide training opportunities in the areas of safety and skills development
for IATSE members.
Corruption
During the early 20th century, organized crime gained
influence over parts of IATSE in collusion with employers. In June 1934, IATSE
held an election with only one person running. The election was rigged by the
soon-to-be elected President Browne. The other two opponents in the running
suddenly dropped from the race after death threats were received. Willie Bioff,
another Chicago gangster, was instantly elected Browne’s "personal representative".
Later that year Bioff went to Hollywood on behalf of
IATSE. He used violent threats to discuss a private and limited contract with
studios. These contracts included weak contracts and high dues. The studios
liked the protection against the union. In 1941, Bioff and other mobsters were
charged with corruption leading to union members attempting to remove them from
power in IATSE. However, The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage
Employees remained corrupt and reverted to fraudulent negotiating practices.
Some sources suggest that, in the later years, IATSE was "more interested
in breaking strikes than winning them".
Membership
The membership process of the IATSE varies widely
depending on each local. In order to become a member, interested applicants
must contact the appropriate local union in their jurisdiction that covers
their particular craft. Once accepted, members work under union contracts that
guarantee certain wages, hours, benefits, safety guidelines, and other
agreements, and gain opportunities to upgrade skills and master new
technologies relating to their craft. Additionally, IATSE members enjoy
benefits from Union Plus, a program created by the AFL-CIO to provide savings
and discounts to union members.
Organization and structure
Within the U.S. and Canada, there are more than 375
IATSE local unions among 13 geographical districts, whose members make up the
rank and file of the IATSE. The IATSE local unions are organized to represent
workers by geographic and craft jurisdiction. Each craft falls under one of
four departments: Stagecraft, Motion Picture and TV, Broadcast, and Tradeshow. The
Canadian Department and Communications Department are two additional
departments within the IA.
International
The IATSE International Union supports all individual
local unions and members in numerous ways, including by:
- Coordinating the negotiation of nationwide agreements within the U.S. and Canada…
- Planning for the future by setting policies to improve the effectiveness of the locals and the International…
- Providing support for local unions and members as needed, including everything from craft training and leadership education to local administration, organizing and collective bargaining assistance…
The International’s General Executive Board is led by
the International President. It consists of the General Secretary-Treasurer,
and 13 International Vice-Presidents. Of the Vice Presidents, two are
designated to come from Canadian locals; one is designated to come from the
West Coast Studio production locals; another, the Special Department locals;
and the remainder are undesignated. Three International Trustees review the
financial activities of the IATSE through semi-annual audits of the
International’s books and records. Also on the Board is the Canadian Labor
Congress Delegate, who serves as a liaison between the IA the CLC, Canada's
umbrella organization for dozens of Canadian and international unions.
Canada
The Canadian Department oversees all IATSE Canadian
affairs and supports the 16,000 Canadian members in 40 Locals through
negotiations, training, and organizing.
The Canadian Department works with stage locals to
organize more theaters, venues, and shows. Also involved in motion picture and
tradeshow, the Canadian Department works closely with all other IATSE
departments on international agreements with employers and providing education
and training opportunities tailored for Canadian members. The department also
provides support for Canadian members and locals, coordinates efforts on
national initiatives with regards to benefits, legislation, political activism,
lobbying, and more.
US national charters
International Cinematographers Guild (Includes
Publicists) (Local 600)
Motion Picture Editors Guild (inclusive of Editors and
Story Analysts) (Local 700)
Local unions
Each local functions autonomously, maintaining their
own Constitution and By-Laws, elections, dues structure, membership meetings,
and more. Locals negotiate labor contracts regarding wages, work rules, and grievance
procedures. They also provide services to their members by administering health
and retirement funds and providing training and education. The IATSE local
unions work for the interest of their membership, while also representing the
overarching goals of the IATSE International.
Stagecraft
Stagecraft members work in venues that include
Broadway theaters, opera houses, dance centers, regional theaters, seasonal
outdoor amphitheaters, arenas, concert halls, parks, television awards venues
and stadiums. Additionally, the front-of house workers who seat the patrons,
work in the box office, scan the tickets and look after the audiences in dozens
of ways are also represented by the IATSE, as are the press agents, house and
company managers in legitimate theater.
Motion picture and TV
Members of the IATSE Motion Picture Division help
create all elements of movies and television. Motion Picture and TV members
build the sets, design the clothing, frame the image, record the dialogue, edit
the scenes, and animate the characters to help bring a story to life. The IATSE
also covers transportation in Canada excluding two provinces. Their work covers
movies large and small, animated films and series, internet content, television
shows across the dial - including children’s programming, reality, game, awards
and talk shows.
Tradeshow
As one of the newcomers to the entertainment world,
the Convention and Tradeshow Industry has been enlarging its footprint over the
last four decades. In that time, IATSE Stage and Exhibition Locals have been
engaged in the installation and dismantling of local, national and
international Conventions and Tradeshows. More recently, the International’s
Trade Show Department has formalized its relationship with multi-national
employers by initiating national agreements and standardizing conditions for
workers in the industry.
Broadcast
The IATSE has represented workers in television
broadcast for over sixty years. Initially IA members in broadcast were employed
primarily at local television stations. Beginning in 1998 the IATSE began to
organize technicians engaged in telecasting live sports events over regional
cable sports networks. Today the Broadcast Department consists of numerous
local unions that represent television station employees, locals that
specialize in live sports broadcasting and thousands of members working in
broadcast from stage, studio mechanics, wardrobe and make-up artists and hair
stylist local unions. Broadcast technicians include technical directors, audio
technicians, camera operators, video technicians, capture playback operators,
editors, graphics artist and utility technicians.
Communications
The Communications Department enhances and supports
the IATSE by maintaining the IATSE’s website, social media channels, email
program, and coordinating with other departments and Locals to disseminate
information. Established in 2011, the Communications Department has set up an
informal network of communication amongst Locals, and between Locals and the
International. The Communications Department also creates educational materials
to assist local unions and IATSE staff with modern communications methods and
platforms.
Education and training
The Education & Training Department facilitates
and supports a culture of ongoing learning within the IATSE. Equally dedicated
to leadership skills for union officers and craft skills and safety training
for workers, the department sponsors and promotes union skills courses and
workshops. It also works closely with the IATSE Training Trust Fund, ETCP,
InfoComm, USITT and others in order to help workers keep abreast of new
technologies, equipment, and styles of work. Additionally, the department
operates outreach programs to high school and college students. The department
was officially established in 2012, following the founding of the Labor
Education Assistance Program (LEAP) in 2009. LEAP provides reimbursement money
to officers of local unions who enroll in qualifying Labor Studies Programs.
Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks,
Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New
York Film Academy, The Balance, Careers Hub, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide
Magazine, Blurb, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Chron, Investopedia,
Variety, No Film School, WGA, BBC, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample
Resume, How Stuff Works, Studio Binder, Career Trend, Producer's Code of
Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety,
Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Production Beast, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, UCAS, Frankenbite,
Realty 101, Careers Hub, Screen Play Scripts, Elements of Cinema, Script
Doctor, ASCAP, Film Independent, Any Possibility, CTLsites, NYFA, Future Learn,
VOM Productions, Mad Studios, DP School, DGA, IATSE,
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IATSE Labor Union / Photo Credit: IATSE
IATSE District Map / Photo Credit: IATSE – Peter F. Rippe
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