Frequently Asked Questions

Interested in joining IATSE Local 479?

Please read this section and then proceed to ‘Becoming a Member’ for more information (click here).

  • The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) is an international labor union representing the rights of its workers and negotiating fair wages and benefits with employers.

  • Local 479 is the Atlanta-based presence of IATSE, representing our members to their employers on contractual issues, including compensation, benefits, and working conditions.

  • No. Local 479 does not operate as a “hiring hall”, meaning that it does not arrange for employment for its members. Professional film workers develop their own personal network of industry contacts to locate and secure employment for themselves.

  • Local 479 provides a variety of resources for members seeking employment, including information about department keys on new projects, notifications of direct staffing requests for day players, and a robust training program designed to expand and enhance the skills that members bring to the workplace.

  • Local 479’s jurisdiction covers Georgia and Alabama, both of which are right-to-work states. Non-union workers in our jurisdiction are protected under the same collective bargaining agreements that have been negotiated between the union and the employers – receiving the same protections without becoming a member. However, non-union workers do not have a voice in negotiation terms set by the unions and cannot vote on the ratification of contracts or the governance of the local union. Membership is a professional commitment to a career in the entertainment industry.

  • Members prefer to hire other members who have made a similar professional commitment to a career in the entertainment industry. With this in mind, applicants are encouraged to join the local when they have established a network of Local 479 members and/or employers who are ready and willing to employ them and who may have the ability to provide employment opportunities to them on a consistent basis going forward.

  • Submit an application for membership following the instructions in the most current version of the Local 479 Application package.