IATSE 3rd 2019_web

the following objectives were discussed:
A Strategic Alliance Agreement between
the IATSE and the Art Babbitt Appreciation
Society, to affirm that:
a. The ABAS and the IATSE will work
together on projects of mutual benefit
regarding the animation industry
in Canada.
b. The ABAS and the IATSE will jointly
brand materials and social media
platforms on projects of mutual benefit,
and
c. The IATSE will financially support
ABAS for expenses related to projects
for their mutual benefit.
President Loeb has approved this plan
and agrees that together with animators
in the ABAS the two organizations can
work together to expand and strengthen
opportunities related to animation. The
IATSE has been working with the animation
community in Canada for many
years to improve their working terms and
conditions and is very proud to announce
its formal partnership with the ABAS at
the General Executive Board meeting in
Montreal, Quebec, through the signing
of a Strategic Alliance. The General Executive
Board and gallery attendees proceeded
to welcome ABAS into the IATSE
family with a standing ovation.
BECTU
Interim Director of Communications
Jonas Loeb reported that he, along with
former Director of Communications
Matthew Cain, retired International Vice
President Anthony DePaulo, and President
Loeb, attended and participated in
the 2019 BECTU Sector Conference, in
Brighton, U.K.
The IATSE delegation began the
two-day event by attending the London
Production Division (LPD) meeting on
May 18th. The meeting focused on various
topics, including difficulty winning
contracts with international production
giants, anti-union campaigns and tactics,
challenges developing and maintaining
relationships with freelancers, and the
culture of long hours in the industry.
During the LPD meeting, BECTU officials
outlined their #EyesHalfShut campaign,
which seeks to decrease the industry’s
reliance on a culture of long working
hours. Interim Director Loeb reported
that this meeting initiated talks concerning
IATSE participation in the campaign,
and collaboration efforts are underway.
The IATSE delegation attended a
Young Members Forum networking
event, where they met and spoke with
dozens of young BECTU members and
officials. These conversations not only
shed light on the similarities and differences
between the issues facing IATSE
members and BECTU members, but they
also helped facilitate a stronger bond between
these sister unions.
President Loeb addressed the BECTU
Sector Conference on May 19th. In his
speech, President Loeb discussed how
issues like industry/new media consolidation,
anti-union campaigns/tactics,
subcontracting, misclassification, and
long hours are difficult, industry-wide,
international challenges, but progress
is still possible. His speech also encouraged
union members to become more
politically engaged, referencing a worsening
political climate in the U.K. that is
eerily similar to the U.S. The speech was
extremely well received, with one BECTU
presenter even proclaiming, “Matt Loeb
2020!” afterwards.
President Loeb thanked Interim Director
Loeb for his report. The work
with BECTU, UNI-MEI, and the IATSE’s
international counterparts is vitally important.
These organizations share and
discuss industry standards, work together
to come up with innovative solutions to
common problems, and innovate together.
This work also supports the industry’s
young workers. The International will
continue to work closely with these organizations
on these efforts.
Director of the Art Babbitt
Appreciation Society
Vanessa Kelly with
International President
Matthew D. Loeb while
signing the Strategic
Alliance Agreement.
CANADIAN LABOUR
CONGRESS SOLIDARITY
AND PRIDE COMMITTEE
IATSE Canadian Office Operations
THIRD QUARTER 2019 59