The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, Moving Picture Technicians,
Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada was originally
chartered by the American Federation of Labor as the National Alliance of Theatrical
Stage Employes in 1893. Our name has evolved over the course of 113 years of
geographic and craft expansion as well as technological advancement. The current title,
adopted in 1995, more accurately reflects the full scope of our activities in the
entertainment industry.
Since the birth of our organization, the stage hands and projectionists have been joined
by a great variety of other craftspersons in the numerous branches of the entertainment
industry, including motion picture and television production, product demonstration
and industrial shows, conventions, facility maintenance, casinos, audio visual, and
computer graphics.
In the I.A. we have always understood that our bargaining strength comes from our
complete coverage of all the crafts involved in the production of theatrical, motion
picture or television products. Our members are involved in every phase of a
production, from its conception through every aspect of its execution. The principle of
complete coverage and unanimity of purpose has been applied by the I.A. with ever-
increasing success to each new form of entertainment.
It is through our combined strength that we have been able to achieve some of the
highest wages and best working conditions to be found among skilled craftspersons
anywhere. Our members are among the highest compensated union members in North
America. While most contracts are negotiated locally or by region, the General Office
signs nationwide agreements in cases where they are warranted by the nature of the
work involved.
In order to protect and expand our bargaining success, it has been, and continues to be
necessary to maintain jurisdictional control over the crafts we represent. To do so, the
I.A. has been constantly required to meet the challenges presented by technological
developments. Over the years, our ability to adjust to technological change has become
one of our greatest strengths. Continuing in that tradition, the I.A. has been in the
forefront of efforts to organize workers in new crafts such as computer-generated
imagery.
Throughout our history we have shown a willingness to modify our structure to protect
our traditional jurisdiction and accommodate new crafts, but that alone is not
sufficient. In recent years, the I.A. has maintained its position in the vanguard of
entertainment industry unions by vigorously pursuing a policy of organizing nonunion
workers. On both the International and local levels of our organization, we have
reaffirmed our commitment to represent every worker employed in our crafts.
Membership participation and democracy are cornerstones of the I.A. These principles
are advanced by our local union structure. Our local unions are autonomous
organizations. They are free to pursue independent agendas based upon their
membership's concerns. The local union structure, backed up by the International,
enables members to have a direct voice in their working lives. The membership is the
driving force behind the effort to obtain the kind of wages, benefits and working
conditions they need for themselves and their families. The local unions are the
vehicles that have enabled these goals to be reached.
The laws of the I.A. are contained in the International Constitution and By-Laws. This
document contains the guidelines that govern the operation of the International Union
and its relationship to the individual local unions and members. The local unions, in
turn, adopt their own Constitutions for the operation of their organizations.
The supreme governing body of the IATSE is the Quadrennial Convention. Every four
years convention delegates, elected by their local unions, review the progress of the
organization; its policies are affirmed or altered; plans for the future are formulated;
and its Constitution and By-Laws are kept up to date. Elections for International Officers
also take place at the Convention.
Between Conventions, the I.A. government is entrusted to its General Executive Board -
consisting of the International President, General Secretary-Treasurer, and thirteen Vice
Presidents. The Board meets at least twice each year.
Day-to-day administration of IATSE affairs is in the hands of the International President,
whose staff includes Assistants to the President and a corps of International
Representatives working throughout the United States and Canada.
Three International Trustees are elected to keep watch over the finances of the I.A. The
Board of Trustees meets twice a year to review the financial books and records of the
organization.
In order to best address regional issues confronting the Locals of the I.A., the
International established fourteen District bodies covering various regions of the U.S.
and Canada. These Districts hold annual conventions to discuss their regional interests
and concerns. In addition, each Quadrennial Convention of the International is
immediately preceded by conventions of the Districts.
Through its long history, the IATSE has moved steadily forward with a firm determination
to bring under one banner the multitude of different crafts active in every technical
phase of the entertainment industry. For many workers, I.A. membership is one of their
most valuable and proudest possessions. We are convinced that this value and this
source of pride will continue to grow mightily in the years ahead.