IATSE

🚨 BREAKING: Workers at 2K’s Motion Capture Studio in Petaluma voted to unionize with IATSE, 15-6 (71%). This marks the first successful unionization effort at a motion capture studio in the video game industry’s history.

For the 4th year in a row, more than 100 members within the U.S. and Canada participated in our social media campaign for Veterans/Remembrance Day. Explore our gallery of #IATSEVeterans who dedicated their lives to serving our two countries. https://lnkd.in/evjewkDF

STATEMENT: IATSE Applauds NLRB Decision Declaring Captive Audience Meetings Unlawful Nationally, Urges Further Action Yesterday's National Labor Relations Board decision represents a significant step in protecting workers’ rights to make independent choices about union representation, free from intimidation or coercion by management. Captive audience meetings are a known union-busting tactic where employers require workers attend anti-union meetings during work hours, often with the implication of disciplinary consequences for non-attendance. These meetings disrupt workers’ autonomy and allow employers to observe workers, including those who might express favorable support for unions. They also demonstrate the companies’ economic power over workers and interfere with workers’ independent and free choice. Under the new Amazon.com Services LLC ruling, the NLRB prohibits employers from mandating these meetings under threat of discipline and keeping attendance at them, though employers remain allowed to share their views in voluntary settings. The ruling only applies to cases moving forward. Behind the scenes entertainment workers seeking to join together under IATSE’s umbrella have frequently been subject to these meetings during the unionization process. “Workers must be allowed to join together in unions free of employer interference or coercion,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. “This decision is a major step towards that ideal, and this is what’s possible when we have an administration and a Labor Board that respects and protects workers’ rights. However, let’s be clear: under the incoming Trump administration we expect the NLRB and its pro-worker decisions to come under threat. We urge Congress to prioritize reappointment and confirmation of NLRB Chair Lauren McFerran as soon as possible to safeguard American workers.” As a union representing behind-the-scenes entertainment workers across the United States and Canada, IATSE is committed to supporting protections that empower workers to advocate for fair working conditions within all levels of government. IATSE stands firm in our mission to defend this right and to resist any future rollback of these hard-won protections. Previously, ‘captive audience meetings’ were restricted or banned outright in a number of states, and the NLRB’s decision now makes it a national standard. The NLRB decision emphasizes and reaffirms that employees are entitled to freely decide whether to participate in union discussions without feeling pressured by employer economic power.

BREAKING: MN #Timberwolves & #lynx management are union-busting against their in-house audio/video crew! In a (dis)information memo sent to workers this week, mgmt says "Wages, benefits, and working conditions could get worse" if workers come together in a union. Since the team was founded in 1989, this crew has received THREE (3) wage increases!! Join us in telling the Wolves/Lynx crew that the labor movement stands with them!!

🚨 BREAKING: IATSE President Pens Letter to the Atlantic Theater Company's Board of Directors, Condemns Lack of Progress in Bargaining IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb stressed the need for urgent intervention by leadership to settle outstanding crew negotiations and federal labor charges. Recently, Atlantic’s leaders have taken actions that seek to strongarm workers into accepting a watered-down deal, including moves to starve out crewmembers by “postponing” the fall production season indefinitely — an action that deprived audiences and prompted the Union to file an unfair labor practice charge (ULP) with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The Atlantic has benefitted from substantial sums of public money in recent years, with records showing over $4.3 million from a Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) — derived from the 2021 Save Our Stages law — as well as a total of $205,000 from several National Endowment for the Arts Grants over the past decade. “It is unconscionable that the Atlantic has taken millions in taxpayer dollars and is now paying a high-priced union-busting attorney to stall negotiations,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. “The Atlantic Board must put a stop to this immediately and deliver a fair contract for their dedicated crew.” The crew, which includes members covering carpentry, electrics, scenic, props, audio, video, hair/makeup, and wardrobe, voted nearly unanimously in favor of unionization on February 20th, 2024. The official National Labor Relations Board election results revealed overwhelming support for the Union, with 129 “yes” votes and only 1 “no” vote.

To our Veteran union members, we thank you for your bravery, service and sacrifice. Today, we honor you. #VeteransDay

BREAKING: Encore AV Workers in Las Vegas Face Union-Busting, Launch Public Campaign in Response Workers employed by Encore, an audio-visual services provider for major resorts across the Las Vegas Strip, are launching a public unionization campaign backed by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). Despite workers’ federal rights to unionize, Encore was set to begin hosting mandatory union-busting meetings intended to persuade workers from joining together to form a union. Encore technicians and riggers are essential to ensuring smooth operations at 31 Las Vegas venues (full list at the end of this post). These workers are responsible for setting up, operating, and breaking down audiovisual systems for events, as well as securing and inspecting rigging equipment in a hospitality setting. These meetings, often called ‘Captive audience meetings’ are a known union-busting tactic, where an employer calls a mandatory meeting during work hours specifically to persuade employees not to unionize. Several US states have laws that either ban captive audience meetings outright, or prohibit employers from penalizing workers for skipping such meetings. Additionally, under Federal U.S. labor law, employees have the right to form or join a union, and it is unlawful for employers to threaten, intimidate, or retaliate against workers for exercising that right. This campaign comes on the heels of recent labor wins in Las Vegas, including the Culinary Union’s historic contract agreement with The Venetian Resort, marking the final casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip to secure union representation for culinary and bartending staff. While IATSE Local 720 already represents most Encore employees, Encore has fought to exclude so-called “satellite” workers from a union contract with Local 720, prompting the workers to seek support from IATSE’s international headquarters. IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb expressed solidarity with the Encore workers, emphasizing the union’s commitment to supporting their campaign. “The workers at Encore have a fundamental right to join together and unionize, and they deserve the same rights and protections that unionized entertainment and hospitality workers in Las Vegas already enjoy. As a union, we fully support their efforts and will work to ensure they have the opportunity to secure fair treatment and safe working conditions.” There are 31 properties which Encore services in Las Vegas, which include: Aria Bellagio Caesars Forum Caesars Palace Cosmopolitan Durango Flamingo Fontainbleau Four Seasons Golden Nugget Green Valley Ranch Harrah’s Horseshoe (Bally’s) Linq Mandalay Bay MGM M Resort Spa New York New York Palms Park MGM Planet Hollywood Red Rock Renaissance Hotel Resorts World Rio Springhill The Westin Venetian/Sands Virgin Hotel Waldorf Westgate

IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb issued the following statement regarding the results of the 2024 U.S. Elections, today: “While this election did not deliver the outcomes we wanted, Union members and IATSE members did our part, and we should be proud of our efforts. Our union organized the most comprehensive electoral engagement campaign in our history, and union members across the country overwhelmingly supported pro-labor candidates and policies. Early returns show that union voters were one of the few groups that did not shift toward the President-elect and anti-worker forces — IATSE members held the line. Over the past 130 years, IATSE has seen wars, economic downturns, and hostile administrations come and go, and we will endure this as well. We will continue to relentlessly advocate for fair and just workplaces, and fight to provide security and prosperity for every worker in entertainment, regardless of the political climate. We will not waiver from this mission, and we will not back down. Make no mistake, over the next four years our union and our industry will face tremendous challenges. The next four years will be about defending against political attempts to dismantle the rights won over the last century, as well as defending against attempts to further slant the economy towards billionaires and international corporations at the expense of working class Americans. But now is not the time to be discouraged. Strength in numbers — union strength — is the best tool we have for defending our rights and collective well-being. If we can’t depend on our nation’s laws to ensure workers have access to fair pay, sustainable benefits, and workplace protections — then we must enshrine them in our contracts. Through collective bargaining, we can secure pay, benefits, and protections that corporate-backed policies may undermine. Solidarity is our only path forward.”

A salute to the theater veterans of Broadway, honored at the 15th annual #BroadwaySalutes for their years of dedication to the stage! From actors, directors, designers to stagehands, their artistry and passion have shaped our industry. To the theater we love, Thank you!

#IATSEVotes