International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada, known as simply the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE /aɪˈɑːtsi/[2] or IA[3] for short), is a North American labor union representing over 168,000 technicians, artisans, and craftspersons in the entertainment industry, including live theatre, motion picture and television production, broadcast and trade shows in the United States, its territories, and Canada.IATSE represents virtually all the behind the scenes workers in crafts ranging from motion picture animator to theater usher.[10] 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.[13] 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).[19] In 1998, the union's name was lengthened to the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada, while maintaining the existing acronym.[20] In the same year, the five departments were established: Stagecraft, Motion Picture and Television Production, Organizing, Trade Show and Display Work, and Canadian Affairs.After passing an original July 31 deadline, as well as multiple extensions, negotiations between the IATSE and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) over the Hollywood Basic Agreement (covering the Los Angeles area) and the Area Standards Agreement (covering the rest of the country) broke down in September 2021.[33] Similarly, the national executive board of the International Cinematographers Guild, IATSE Local 600, voted unanimously in favor of authorizing a strike.[40] The national executive director of the Editors Guild, Cathy Repola, said on October 12 that "the pace of negotiations does not reflect the urgency of the situation ... the employers repeatedly refuse to do what it will take to achieve a fair deal"."[42] Well-known media personalities in support of the IATSE include Jaimie Alexander, Stephanie Beatriz, Chloe Bennet, C. Robert Cargill, Ever Carradine, Matthew Cherry, Auliʻi Cravalho, Ava DuVernay, Frances Fisher, Jane Fonda, Courtney Ford, Karen Gillan, Lucy Hale, Jeremy O. Harris, Ron Howard, Joshua Jackson, Jameela Jamil, Barry Jenkins, Mindy Kaling, Alyssa Milano, Mandy Moore, Cynthia Nixon, Christopher Nolan, Rosie O'Donnell, Edward James Olmos, Anna Paquin, Sarah Paulson, Francia Raisa, Anthony Rapp, Ryan Reynolds, Seth Rogen, Susan Sarandon, Octavia Spencer, Steven Spielberg, Ben Stiller, Lily Tomlin, Kerry Washington, Bradley Whitford, Mae Whitman, Jeffrey Wright, and Rachel Zegler,[43][44][45][46] as well as current and former SAG-AFTRA leaders including Fran Drescher, Rebecca Damon, Gabrielle Carteris, and Joely Fisher."[48] Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins supported the IATSE and planned to strike over dangerous working conditions days before her death in the 2021 Rust shooting incident.[52] Congressional Democrats, comprising 31 Senators and 87 Representatives, wrote to AMPTP president Carol Lombardini on September 30 to express support for "the principles of adequate sleep, meal breaks[,] and living wages for all workers".[53] Following the strike authorization vote, Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called the results "an incredible accomplishment" and "exactly the kind of mass-movement organizing we need right now".[45] Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) tweeted that IATSE workers "are integral to Georgia's economy and I support their fight to push for fair wages and benefits, which they deserve".[54] A strike would have affected productions everywhere in the United States, as Locals 600, 700, and 800, representing camera crews, editors, and art directors, respectively, are national organizations.[59] Broadway shows would also not be affected,[60] and neither would post-production work for certain companies including Skywalker Sound, Tyler Perry Studios, and Vice Media.[65] 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.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.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.More recently, the International's Tradeshow Department has formalized its relationship with multi-national employers by initiating national agreements and standardizing conditions for workers in the industry.
Labor unionNew York CityNew YorkAFL–CIOCanadian Labour CongressTony Honors for Excellence in Theatrestagehandslive theatermotion picturetrade showsexhibitionstelevision broadcastingconcertsmotion picture animatortheater usherprivate sectorGeorge BrowneWillie BioffAlliance of Motion Picture and Television Producersstreamingminimum wageLos Angeles TimesCOVID-19 pandemiceffects on filmTV productionPaul KrugmanMatthew LoebJaimie AlexanderStephanie BeatrizChloe BennetC. Robert CargillEver CarradineMatthew CherryAuliʻi CravalhoAva DuVernayFrances FisherJane FondaCourtney FordKaren GillanLucy HaleJeremy O. HarrisRon HowardJoshua JacksonJameela JamilBarry JenkinsMindy KalingAlyssa MilanoMandy MooreCynthia NixonChristopher NolanRosie O'DonnellEdward James OlmosAnna PaquinSarah PaulsonFrancia RaisaAnthony RappRyan ReynoldsSeth RogenSusan SarandonOctavia SpencerSteven SpielbergBen StillerLily TomlinKerry WashingtonBradley WhitfordMae WhitmanJeffrey WrightRachel ZeglerFran DrescherGabrielle CarterisJoely FisherWGA EastDirectors Guild of AmericaHalyna Hutchins2021 Rust shooting incidentAlexandria Ocasio-CortezRaphael Warnockintegral to Georgia's economyLocals 600CinemaxShowtimemusic videosSkywalker SoundTyler Perry StudiosVice MediaAlaskaMontanaOregonWashingtonArizonaCaliforniaHawaiiNevadaMassachusettsNew HampshireRhode IslandVermontConnecticutPennsylvaniaDelawareMarylandVirginiaWest VirginiaDistrict of ColumbiaWyomingColoradoNew MexicoOklahomaArkansasTennesseeAlabamaGeorgiaNorth CarolinaSouth CarolinaMississippiLouisianaMichiganIndianaKentuckyWisconsinIllinoisMissouriMinnesotaNorth DakotaSouth DakotaNebraska