The Union Behind Entertainment.

IATSE is an international labor union representing more than 168,000 entertainment industry professionals across the United States and Canada, including stagehands, front of house workers, wardrobe attendants, hair and makeup artists, motion picture and television production technicians, broadcast technicians, scenic artists, designers, animators, audiovisual technicians, and more.

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Growth = Strength

“It is a basic principle that unions that are growing become stronger while those that are unable to grow, or lose members, are weakened. That’s why it’s imperative that we strive for the highest level of organization and IATSE union density possible. If we leave the employers no alternative but to turn to the IATSE, we control the industry and increase bargaining power. Then we can exert the strength garnered from growth to benefit the workers we are bound to represent. Too often competitive forces undermine our standards by performing our traditional work for substandard wages and conditions. This competition is an anchor to progress. The way to eliminate the competitive menace is to organize. To raise the standards of those performing the work and level the playing field with the employers. The Delegates at the Convention fully understood this necessity and wholeheartedly supported the theme through their involvement.”

Matthew D. Loeb, International President IATSE,
The Official IATSE Bulletin, No. 660, 2nd Qtr, 2018

Many Locals. One Union.

IATSE Local 479 is just one of more than 360 Local Unions within the United States and Canada. The members of all these locals constitute the rank and file of the IATSE. We are an autonomous, independent 501(c)5 nonprofit entity with our own Constitution and By-Laws, officer elections, dues structure, membership meetings, and democratic processes.

Rights & Protections IATSE Has Won

Wages

  • Required, transparent minimum base salaries

  • Negotiated pay raises

  • Holiday Pay

 

Benefits

  • Industry-wide portable benefits plans (health, pension/annuity, training)

  • Health care moves with you from employer to employer, continuous coverage

  • Training for new technology (IATSE Training Trust Fund)

 

Hours

  • Fair Overtime Pay

  • A defined number of hours off before you’re expected back at work

  • Paid ride home or a hotel room to ensure your safety

  • Meal penalties

Harassment & Discrimination

  • Provided representation and advocacy in discrimination cases

  • Negotiated stronger protections for LGBTQ folks beyond what local and federal law requires

  • Won pay parity for historically non-male job classifications

 

Health & Safety

  • Improved safety standards and enforcement—currently working on “safe return to work” standards with epidemiologists to protect workers returning to productions during COVID-19

 

Other Terms & Conditions

  • Recognition of union stewards at job sites, to ensure compliance with contract.

  • Working on diversity in the hiring pipeline

  • Creation of an escrow account for at-risk employers to ensure their employees’ wages & benefits are paid

  • ‘Just cause’ requirement for any discipline and/or termination