IATSE-2nd2018_web

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
One-hundred and twenty-five years stands as an extraordinary testament to IATSE’s longevity, vibrancy and resilience. For
any organization to survive, much less thrive, over this length of time is impressive enough. But this anniversary is about far
more than a number.
It’s about the unparalleled spirit, tenacity and craftsmanship
of IATSE’s members.
It’s about the inestimable value of solidarity.
It’s about the relentless commitment to organizing and
growth, which is why the Alliance increased its membership
from 1,500 at the time of its founding in 1893 — to 3,700 in
1900 — to 21,000 in 1920 — to 74,000 in 1993 — to 111,000 in
2008 — and to 140,000 today!
And it’s about the vision of a union that not only seeks to,
but actually commands the workforce in its industry — and ably
uses the leverage it has built to maximize members’ living standards,
job and financial security, and working conditions.
In short, this is a story about how over the course of onehundred
and twenty-five years, one great union has served as a
model for the North American labor movement and achieved
continual success even in the most challenging times and most
hostile environments.
At IATSE’s 2013 Convention, International President
Matthew Loeb defined the Alliance’s four pillars of success:
Leadership, Skills and Safety, Activism, and Communication.
“It is through these pillars,” he said, “that we will strengthen
the infrastructure over the next four years to ensure the success
of this great Union.”
Each of the four pillars fits together. They have put member
empowerment front and center in all union operations, they have
made the Alliance more inclusive, they have strengthened the IA’s
capacity and clout, and they have provided the foundation for organizing
gains at a time when union membership overall is in decline.
Indeed, few if any other unions in North America have
achieved comparable growth, especially over the past twentyfive
years.
Complementing and advancing the four pillars approach,
the theme of the 2017 IATSE Convention was “Growth =
Strength.” Because it is irrefutable that the Alliance’s organizing
success has led directly to increased clout at the bargaining
table, in the entertainment industry, and in the economic, legislative
and political arenas. Appropriately, this was the largest
IATSE Convention ever held.
As President Loeb wrote:
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.
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