NEWS
Aloha, IA
65th International Convention Held in Hawaii
by Jeffrey Burman
International
Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees President Thomas C. Short
was re-elected to a four-year term July 22 by IATSE delegates attending
the union’s 65th International Convention, held at the Sheraton
Waikiki in Honolulu, Hawaii. This marked the fourth time he was elected
as head of the IATSE on a white ballot, meaning he stood for office
unopposed. Short was first appointed by the IATSE General Executive
Board as International President on December 16, 1994, filling a vacancy
created by the resignation of ailing former President Alfred Di Tolla.
American and Canadian delegates from the IA’s 14 regional districts held one-day district meetings immediately preceding the week-long international convention. Motion Picture Editors Guild delegates attended three of these regional conferences: the District Two meeting for California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii; the District Three meeting for the New England region and the District Ten meeting for the New York and New Jersey region.
At the Districts Three and Ten meetings, our delegates went over new and old business conducted since the last convention in Chicago in 2001. The delegates at the District Two meeting elected Missy Humphrey to succeed Moshe Bialac as Secretary of District Two, and heard speeches from Art Polaski, Executive Secretary of the California Labor Federation, and Angie Wei, Legislative Director of the California Labor Federation, who each elaborated on the essential political activities supported by the IA.
Delegates to the convention nominated and elected the members of the IATSE General Executive Board, consisting of the President, the General Secretary Treasurer, Canadian Labour Council Delegate, 13 International Vice Presidents, and three International Trustees. The 834 IA delegates also reviewed the work done by the Alliance over the previous four years and found many areas of significant growth and progress. While many unions are losing members, the IA has increased its membership from the 101,000 reported at the previous convention, to over 105,000 in 2005. National term agreements, like the one enjoyed by this Guild, have increased from two, when Short started in 1994, to over 1,100 now.
The
delegates approved 21 resolutions. One resolution pledged to support
efforts to enact single-payer health care bills in the US and to preserve
and strengthen the universal public health insurance system in Canada,
while another agreed to form an International Coalition of Entertainment
Labor Organizations to share information about common employers. Yet
another resolution established a Diversity Committee.
Other resolutions called for the IA to work in solidarity with other unions to help organize Wal-Mart throughout the US and Canada; to support national and local legislation to increase the minimum wage, eliminate wage discrimination and further the rights of workers to organize; to support anti-piracy legislation; and to oppose attempts to privatize the Social Security system. A resolution to remove a clause in the IATSE Constitution used to exclude Blacklist-era “subversives” failed to win approval after a spirited debate.
Delegates heard a series of thought-provoking speeches. Jay Roth, National Executive Director of the Directors Guild, spoke about the close relationship between the IA and the DGA, the rapid changes in the forms of motion picture distribution and the dangers of piracy. Martin Ludlow, the newly elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, emphasized the importance of unity, organizing and political activity. Ken Georgetti, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, reminded delegates of the well-established union culture to our north. Tony Lennon, President of the Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU) of the UK, described the benefits of the newly codified collaborative relationship between the IA and BECTU in our global negotiating environment.
As Short said in his President’s Report, “The forces on the other side are powerful, but if we stand together, we can stand up to them and achieve results for our members. Imagination. Dedication. Communication. Solidarity. These are the tools that will enable us to build the future of this Alliance.
Jeff Burman represents Sound Editors on the Guild’s Board of Directors. He can be reached at jeffrey.burman@nbcuni.com.
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