"There Are Very Few Shows
That Can Be Shot Non-IA
In Los Angeles Today"

The following are highlights from IATSE President
Tom Short's speech at this year's District 2 meeting.

"I think it's time for organized labor to detach itself from the Democratic Party. They've taken our money, they've taken our votes and they've taken us for granted for far too long. The International is not going to be sewn to the hip of the Democratic or Republican party. We're going to hold out for what we can extricate from either party - or any party for that matter - as to what's in our best interest, not theirs.

We have to become involved in... visual effects because every major show today is going into the visual effects houses that have moved out of the studios. That's our work; we re going after it.

We had to strike 'Fargo.' The Coen brothers understood that no matter where they went, the IA would be there. They have signed a national agreement with the IATSE.

Quentin Tarantino and Lawrence Bender have finally come to the realization that they have to do business with us.

We have an agreement with the Association of Independent Commercial Producers. There are now 147 commercial producers that have signed on.

We were successful in organizing the largest producer of sitcom television in the U.S.- Carsey-Werner. They were nonunion for six or seven years. They have signed on to the Basic Agreement.

We have made significant progress in the last two-and-a-half years. There are very few shows that can be shot non-IA in Los Angeles today.

We've become an aggressive union. We've shown our teeth when we've needed to. We've been compassionate with our people and our friendly employers...If we stick together and if we work together and if we have one common goal, there is nothing that will get in the way of our success."