Downloadable - IA.TSE Local 80
Downloadable - IA.TSE Local 80
Downloadable - IA.TSE Local 80
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DECO collective bargaining agreement<br />
with the general service contractors<br />
will expire on September<br />
15, 2012. Representative Gandolini<br />
has been assigned to assist the <strong>Local</strong><br />
in negotiations, which are scheduled<br />
to begin during the first week<br />
of August.<br />
The Board was informed that the<br />
NLRB dismissed charges filed against<br />
<strong>Local</strong> 834 by a member relative to<br />
his suspension for misconduct. The<br />
complaint had challenged the <strong>Local</strong>’s<br />
Rules and Regulations.<br />
<strong>Local</strong> 835, Orlando, Florida<br />
It was reported that an unfair labor<br />
practice charge was filed by Orlando<br />
<strong>Local</strong> 835 against Trade Show<br />
Supply, an exhibitor appointed<br />
contractor (EAC) that is signatory to<br />
the area standards agreement. The<br />
employer has refused to provide<br />
the payroll records requested to investigate<br />
the use of non-bargaining<br />
unit employees. The NLRB issued<br />
a complaint and a hearing is set in<br />
August.<br />
<strong>Local</strong> 838, Salt Lake City<br />
<strong>Local</strong> 838 has reached a tentative<br />
collective bargaining agreement with<br />
Atmosphere Studios for a four-year<br />
term with 4% wage increases in 2013<br />
and 2015, and a 2% increase in the<br />
retirement contribution on August<br />
1, 2012. The company is interested<br />
in exploring a national agreement to<br />
use <strong>IA</strong><strong>TSE</strong> labor for their onsite installations<br />
throughout the country.<br />
They were enthused by the <strong>IA</strong><strong>TSE</strong>/<br />
InfoComm partnership and indicated<br />
they are interested in acquiring the<br />
ability to broker labor for the audiovisual<br />
equipment they rent for their<br />
clients.<br />
Canada<br />
A strategic plan to organize the<br />
audio-visual industry in Canada is<br />
being developed. An extensive questionnaire<br />
was sent out to each <strong>Local</strong><br />
to gather information about the industry.<br />
It was discovered that many<br />
<strong>Local</strong>s already perform AV work with<br />
miscellaneous employers. Action is<br />
being taken to inform the <strong>Local</strong>s of<br />
training opportunities including the<br />
InfoComm partnership. It was noted<br />
that the <strong>Local</strong>s intend to embrace this<br />
exciting opportunity to capture audio-visual<br />
work.<br />
Exhibitor 2012<br />
Vice President Gearns and Representatives<br />
Kiracofe and Gandolini<br />
attended the annual Exhibitor Show<br />
in Las Vegas. An exhibit on the show<br />
floor presented the <strong>IA</strong><strong>TSE</strong>’s skilled<br />
crafts that are utilized in the exhibition<br />
and convention industry. The<br />
Show also provided an excellent opportunity<br />
to discuss mutual concerns<br />
with management in a cooperative<br />
environment.<br />
Representative Kiracofe reported<br />
that President Loeb has approved the<br />
purchase of a new tradeshow display,<br />
the design of which is consistent<br />
with the International’s website.<br />
The new display is set up to accommodate<br />
the mounting of video displays.<br />
Representative Kiracofe acknowledged<br />
the invaluable input and<br />
assistance of Representative Vanessa<br />
Holtgrewe and Assistant to the Editor<br />
MaryAnn Kelly, who developed the<br />
artwork for the display.<br />
Industry Affiliations<br />
Vice President Gearns and Representatives<br />
Faulkner, Kiracofe, Sanders<br />
and Gandolini attended the ESCA<br />
(Exhibition Services Contractors Association)<br />
summer conference in<br />
June 2012. Representative Kiracofe<br />
volunteered to be on the education<br />
selection committee to be part of the<br />
process of selecting speakers. Representative<br />
Gandolini will be on a committee<br />
formed to assemble a database<br />
outlining union jurisdictions in<br />
every city. This should help resolve<br />
jurisdictional disputes before they escalate<br />
onto the show floor.<br />
Representative Gandolini attended<br />
the EACA/<strong>TSE</strong>A annual summer<br />
conference in Chicago, IL. As a result<br />
of these two organizations merging,<br />
it has been renamed the Exhibit<br />
and Event Marketing Association, or<br />
E2MA, and its focus is on integrating<br />
the best features of each organization.<br />
Vice President Gearns reported<br />
that the Center for Exhibition Industry<br />
Research (CEIR) has issued its industry<br />
report finding that the tradeshow industry<br />
has bottomed out and is slated<br />
for slow growth. It is predicted that<br />
associations will gradually be getting<br />
out of the tradeshow business and that<br />
convention centers will own certain<br />
events, will become service contractors,<br />
and will partner with show organizers<br />
to share the risks and rewards.<br />
These developments will be closely<br />
monitored by the Department.<br />
At the conclusion of the report,<br />
President Loeb commended the<br />
Tradeshow Department for their hard<br />
work and pledged continued support<br />
for their efforts. He encouraged the<br />
Canadian <strong>Local</strong>s to leverage their relationships<br />
with current employers to<br />
obtain contracts. He commented that<br />
the tradeshow/AV market includes<br />
almost every hotel and convention<br />
facility in the United States and Canada<br />
and provides an enormous opportunity<br />
for growth.<br />
Communications Director Emily Tao<br />
COMMUNICATIONS<br />
DEPARTMENT<br />
Communications Director Emily<br />
Tao appeared before the Board<br />
to provide an update on the activities<br />
of the Department since the last<br />
General Executive Board meeting in<br />
Atlanta in February.<br />
Director Tao gave a demonstration<br />
of the new website that<br />
launched on June 4, 2012. She noted<br />
that there had been technical launch<br />
problems with browser optimization.<br />
Specifically, older versions of<br />
Internet Explorer did not load images<br />
correctly. The Communications<br />
Department worked tirelessly to fix<br />
the launch problems which have<br />
since been resolved. It was noted<br />
that a mobile version of the website<br />
for Smartphones will be launched<br />
soon.<br />
The goals for the website are to<br />
focus on members, highlight news<br />
and to connect the International’s<br />
online network so that it works<br />
with all devices. New features will<br />
be added to the website to increase<br />
its interactive function and member<br />
focus.<br />
Director Tao thanked President<br />
Loeb and all who have collaborated<br />
on the development and launch of<br />
the website.<br />
UNI-Communicators Forum<br />
President Loeb assigned Director<br />
Tao to attend the UNI Global Communicator’s<br />
Forum held at UNI’s<br />
head office in Nyon, Switzerland<br />
from June 20-22, 2012. UNI Global<br />
Union represents 20 million workers<br />
throughout 150 countries. Director<br />
Tao gave a presentation on the<br />
<strong>IA</strong><strong>TSE</strong> Communications Department,<br />
highlighting the changes in the International’s<br />
digital communications capabilities.<br />
Other speakers presented<br />
on a variety of union communications<br />
topics. Director Tao stated that<br />
the forum was an excellent way to<br />
share best practices among union<br />
communicators, brainstorm ideas for<br />
more effective messaging and to encourage<br />
action.<br />
General Assistance to Departments<br />
Director Tao reported that she<br />
continues to provide support to other<br />
departments of the International<br />
including Education and the Organizing<br />
Department which has now<br />
been folded into Stagecraft. She has<br />
used the International’s online presence<br />
to distribute information, assist<br />
in organizing campaigns, contract<br />
ratification, and rapid response. She<br />
continues to work with Department<br />
Directors, International staff, and<br />
union members to post news online<br />
in an accessible, streamlined manner.<br />
To this end, Vice Presidents Michael<br />
Miller and Thom Davis commended<br />
Director Tao for her able assistance<br />
in connection with the dissemination<br />
of information concerning ratification<br />
of the Basic Agreement.<br />
Social Media<br />
Since Director Tao’s appointment<br />
a year ago, the International has seen<br />
rapid and exponential growth in its<br />
social media networks. Most importantly,<br />
the International’s Facebook,<br />
Twitter and Flickr accounts have allowed<br />
for the development of an online<br />
community.<br />
President Loeb emphasized the<br />
importance of remaining current in<br />
this area. He remarked that we live<br />
in the communications age and that<br />
communication supports everything<br />
we do—organizing, political action,<br />
and contract ratification for example.<br />
He also noted his satisfaction with<br />
the website, which is user friendly<br />
and aesthetically pleasing.<br />
EDUCATION AND TRAINING<br />
DEPARTMENT<br />
Director Patricia White, ICAP<br />
Chairman Kent Jorgensen, West Coast<br />
Counsel James Varga and In-House<br />
Counsel Samantha Dulaney appeared<br />
before the Board to provide<br />
an update with regard to the status<br />
and activities of the newly formed<br />
Education and Training Department.<br />
The Department incorporates various<br />
International initiatives under<br />
one umbrella in order to ensure better<br />
coordination between the Union<br />
Skills Programs (e.g. LEAP, etc.), the<br />
ICAP, the new Training Trust, and<br />
student outreach efforts.<br />
Training Trust<br />
West Coast Counsel Varga reported<br />
that the <strong>IA</strong><strong>TSE</strong> Entertainment and<br />
Exhibition Industries Training Trust<br />
celebrated its one-year anniversary<br />
on June 22, 2012, which belies its<br />
significant accomplishments. As of<br />
July 1, 2012 there are 151 signatories<br />
consisting of employers and lo-<br />
42 Official Bulletin Third Quarter 2012 43