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IATSE: Crafting a New
Approach to Leadership
International Alliance of
Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied
Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada, or IATSE for
short, has by far the longest name in the union world today. The IATSE is the labor union
representing technicians, artisans and crafts persons in the entertainment
industry, including live theatre, motion picture and television production, and
trade shows. Basically, the IATSE union
covers the complete spectrum of entertainment industries. According to their homepage, this
entertainment monopoly provides bargaining power for their membership. It is probably why the IATSE union faces
little resistance when collective bargaining.
The IATSE
union is committed to staying abreast of technological advancements and
preventing the union and its members from becoming an obsolete organization.
They consider their ability to adapt to these changes one of their greatest
strengths. Throughout their union’s
history, they have modified and transformed their union into an organization
that is able to maintain the upper hand on the crafts they serve. One of the keys to their success lies within
the organization of non-union workers.
When new crafts emerge, the IATSE is quick to organize workers and
absorb the industry into their whole.
Unlike some
unions, the locals within the IATSE infrastructure are autonomous, and are not
reliant upon national union decrees. The
locals are able to follow whatever agenda the membership sees fit, as well as
vote upon local matters that will directly affect them. In order to see that the organization moves
forward together, a Quadrennial Convention is instituted. Elected members from each local meet and
discuss current progression within the organization as well as critical issues
that the membership should be aware of.
Because of their unique approach to leadership, the IATSE is able to
effortlessly progress into the future while still exhibiting positive growth.
To view
more on IATSE’s progressive approach to organizing, visit their national homepage. Or to find a IATSE local near you, please visit
the Unions.org Local Search page.
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