Fourth Quarter 2012 - IA.TSE Local 80

President ObamaPersonally StandsUp for IATSE Local 12StagehandsBrothers and Sisters of IATSE Local 12*,I know we are all tired of seeing political ads, but please take a moment to read this before you headto the polls today. Over the last few days political history happened in Columbus Ohio and IATSE Local 12was at the center of it.Late last week our Business Agent filled a call for 65 Stagehands at Nationwide Arena. As we are allaware, clients rarely choose to use IATSE 12 in Nationwide. However, this client was Forty-Two Inc., the AVvendor for President Barak Obama in Ohio, and his campaign had chosen downtown Columbus as the locationfor his last campaign stop before election day. Richard Shack filled the call with excitement.Excitement quickly turned to frustration when the building management stated to the Obama campaignthat Nationwide was a "non-union" venue and that IATSE Local 12 stagehands would not be welcome to workthere. Our Business Agent Richard Shack and our President Doug Boggs immediately began to contact localpoliticians including Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown, Mayor Mike Coleman, former Stricklandadministration official Patrick Harris, and others with whom we have developed relationships over the years.In addition, the leadership of IATSE in DC and NYC was contacted, and President Loeb became involved.Then something special happened: the politicians we elect to represent our interests went to work.Marilyn Brown had multiple conversations with Nationwide Arena management on our behalf. SenatorSherrod Brown became involved. Finally, according to second-hand sources, our lobbying actually reachedthe Obama campaign, who informed the building that they would rather cancel the event altogether than dothis event without a full crew of Union stagehands. The President of the United States stood up for IATSELocal 12.On Sunday morning 65 stagehands showed up, led by Richard Steele as union steward, and loaded inthe show like the professionals they are. Riggers from IATSE locals in Cleveland, Detroit, and Dayton helpedColumbus area riggers hang over 60 points and a giant 60' wide American flag. The rally on Monday afternoonused a deck crew of union stage hands that helped Bruce Springsteen, Jay- Z, and finally Barak Obamaentertain an arena full of "fired up and ready to go" Obama supporters. It was a great event.As stagehands returned to the Arena for the load out, we waited for an unusually long time and weresearched by secret service personnel. President Obama had stayed an hour after the event was over topersonally thank each member of the crew! Many members of Local 12 were able to meet the President inperson.There is no politician more powerful than the President of the United States, and it is incredible that hestood up for us when we needed him most. President Obama stayed around to thank us when he had manyother things he could do with his time, on the night before election day. As union members we sometimesfeel abandoned by the leaders we elect to serve us. However the past few days have shown that some ofthose leaders care about us, and came through when it mattered most. Our own elected union officials dida superb job and local politicians have promised to follow up this event with further investigation in to thestatus of IATSE local 12 in Nationwide Arena.Please consider these events when you and your families head to the polls today. President BarakObama and Senator Sherrod Brown support IATSE Local 12. Now we need to thank them with our votes, andthe votes of our friends and families Please pass this on and thank you for your time.IATSE West Coast Officedisplays Prop 32 bannerIATSE SAYS NO ON PROP 32I want to thank IA Vice Presidents Thom Davis and MikeMiller, the leadership and membership of our California localsfor their tireless efforts to defeat this blatant attack on workers….Whereverand whenever the interests of IATSE membersare in jeopardy we will be there fighting- International President Matthew D. LoebLocal 44passing outflyers andstickers at5:30 a.m.to workersregarding ‘Noon Prop 32’From left to right, SanDiego, Local 122 BusinessAgent Carlos Cota,International RepresentativeRon Garcia,AFL-CIO PresidentRichard Trumka andOrange County, Local504 Business AgentLes Blanchard at theOrange County LaborFederation “NO on Prop32”meeting on September19, 2012.IATSE Member-to-Member Phone Banking on“No on Prop 32” at Local 80’s headquartersLocal 600’sCalifornia officeproudly showedits supportThomas N. SicoIATSE Local 12*Originally emailed to members of IATSE Local 12, Columbus, Ohio, November 6, 201218 Official Bulletin Fourth Quarter 2012 19