IATSE District 2 Locals Meet

by Diane Adler

The IATSE, due to its vast geographical territory, is divided into five districts. We are part of District 2 along with all of the locals in California, Hawaii, Arizona and Nevada. The districts hold annual meetings to discuss many issues and although they have no authority in the appellate procedures of the IA, the meetings are viewed as an opportunity to build unity and provide an opportunity for networking.

Our local sent four delegates to the District 2 meeting this year which took place on May 2nd and 3rd in Hawaii. Ron Kutak, Cathy Repola, Jan Ambler and myself attended. The format takes place in two phases - open sessions, where all of the delegates are present, and meetings of committees. All delegates are appointed to participate in a committee. Our delegates participated in committees including safety, legislative and public relations.

This year over two hundred delegates were present. We were addressed by International President Short who gave a moving speech outlining the changes which have taken place within the International and the incredible amount of successful organizing drives. The guest speaker was Art Pulaski, Secretary-Treasurer of the California Labor Federation. He spoke of the loss of the eight hour day in California, the grim future of labor in our state under the current governor's reign and the need for unions to get more involved in the political process in order to protect all that working people have fought so hard to achieve.

It was a successful meeting and viewed by many attendees to be one of the best District 2 meetings ever.

(Look to future issues of the Newsletter for excerpts from both speeches.)