IATSE-2nd2018_web

DIGITAL AGREEMENT
As motion picture and television production moved into the
digital age, Alliance leaders negotiated the Digital Supplement
to the Producer IATSE Basic Agreement in 2001. This secured
IATSE’s jurisdiction in digital work, especially in the area of
television.
NATIONAL AGREEMENTS MULTIPLY
All of these contracts and many others made a profound
difference. In 1994, IATSE had two national agreements — the
Pink Contract for traveling members, and the West Coast Basic
Agreement covering the West Coast Studio Locals. In 2003,
there were more than 600 signatories to a variety of national
agreements such as the Low Budget Agreement, Commercial
Agreements, the Canadian Pink Contract, Area Standards
Agreement, and the Digital Agreement. Motivated by a
need to become more competitive in the marketplace, these
agreements covering motion pictures, legitimate theatres,
tradeshows and television venues, not only increased IATSE
membership, but added employers that historically had been
non-union.
CANADIAN AFFILIATIONS
For years, the presence of an independent union, the
Association of Canadian Film Craftpeople (ACFC), made it
harder for Canadian IATSE members to achieve gains at the
bargaining table in the area of motion picture and television
production. Using classic divide-and-conquer tactics,
employers managed to suppress wages and limit contractual
improvements by either using or threatening to use an
alternative workforce.
All that changed in 1996 on two fronts. Locals 63, 295 and
300 waged a successful organizing drive that resulted in the
end of the ACFC contingent operating in their jurisdiction.
Members of the ACFC chose to dissolve the Prairie Region of
their organization in favor of joining any of the three IATSE
local unions.
At the same time, under the leadership of then-Business
Agent James B. Wood, Local 873 concluded amicable negotiations
with an agreement to absorb ACFC Toronto, with its members
all joining IATSE Local 873.
USA829 REAFFILIATES
After eighty-one years, USA829 rejoined the IATSE in
1999. USA829’s membership voted, by a ninety-nine percent
majority, to reaffiliate with IATSE.
USA829 was founded with twenty members on September
11, 1895, and was originally known as the Protective Alliance
of Scenic Painters of America. Initially affiliated with the
IA, the Local lost its jurisdiction to the Painters in 1918.
However, finding themselves negotiating with many of the
same employers as IATSE, it was only natural that USA
members would wish to reaffiliate.
Comprised of skilled artisans and designers in the
entertainment industry and sharing common goals with
IATSE production Locals, USA829 seamlessly adjusted to its
reaffiliation. The vision exhibited by both USA829 and the
IATSE General Executive Board, in agreeing to the reunion,
has worked to the benefit of both. In the first three years after
its reaffiliation, USA829 benefited from the strength of IATSE
in negotiations with the League, LORT, the AMPTP and other
employers. The Alliance gained approximately 3,000 new
members possessing artistic and creative skills that cut across
all segments of the entertainment industry.
LOCAL UNION MERGERS
In May 1996, former IATSE camera Locals 644, 666 and 659
joined forces to become Local 600, with camera jurisdiction
72