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history and culture. Young people often lack an understanding
about what unions do and why they remain more relevant today
than ever. The current and most popular version of this training
is “Passion and Pay,” a PowerPoint presentation created by
the Education and Training Department to teach young workers
about the relationship between strong unions and a healthy
economy, and to introduce IATSE and what it stands for. It includes
speaking notes, and is designed specifically for use by local
unions. It can be easily customized and used not only for student
outreach, but also in new member orientations, and as an organizing
tool and are available to all local unions.
In New York City, IATSE partners with Education at Roundabout
Theatre on two innovative initiatives that reach out to New
York City’s school population. These programs aim to break down
barriers that prevent young adults from joining the industry, to
create tangible pathways for economically disadvantaged students
into satisfying and sustainable careers, and to cultivate a more diverse
technical theater workforce. “Hidden Career Path Days” exposes
public high school students to careers in technical theater
and the possible pathways to pursue those careers, and educates
students about why IATSE and unions generally are important.
Local unions elsewhere across the Alliance have been inspired by
this program to conduct similar outreach in their own cities.
Learning about the careers in the IA’s field is only a first step,
and last year, IATSE began a post-high school program to keep
young people moving on the path to good jobs. The Theatrical
Workforce Development Program (TWDP) continues training
for post-high school technicians, supervised by Roundabout
staff. Participants receive one-on-one mentoring with an IATSE
member. Mentors, along with program staff, provide support
in locating and accessing industry resources and other professionals
in the field and help the students build their professional
network. This vital component of the program helps the fellows
make a successful transition to professional theater work.
CREW ONE
In 2014, a representation election was held for employees of
Crew One, a labor contracting company that serviced three Live
Nation amphitheaters in Atlanta, Georgia. After winning the election,
the company engaged in a technical refusal to bargain. The
National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint in response
to the workers’ Unfair Labor Practice charge. Crew One then
appealed to the Court of Appeals which ruled against IATSE,
finding that the workers were properly classified as independent
contractors. In response, the IA launched an aggressive public
relations campaign. The campaign included press outreach, an
online petition drive, and a shareholders campaign that made appeals
to Live Nation’s Board of Directors and the employers of
those Directors.
In response to the shareholders campaign, Live Nation
reached out to see if a settlement could be reached. After intense
negotiations, Live Nation ultimately agreed to terminate its contract
with Crew One and turn over jurisdiction to IATSE Local
927 at the Lakewood Amphitheater in 2016, with the Verizon
and Chastain Park Amphitheaters added to the contract in 2017.
This Live Nation Atlanta campaign was notable for the coordination
of efforts by the Stagecraft, Communications, Education
and Training, and Legal Departments. It was a major victory
in the IA’s ongoing battle against labor contractors.
SCRIPT COORDINATORS AND
WRITER’S ROOM ASSISTANTS
In 2017, IATSE and Local 871 in Los Angeles organized two
new crafts, Script Coordinators and Writer’s Room Assistants,
working in the County of Los Angeles on live action, scripted
dramatic television motion pictures and new media programs.
This brought the Alliance into the writer’s room for the first
time. The organizing drive resulted in more than four-hundred
new members with the benefits of an IATSE contract.
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