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INDUSTRY ORGANIZATION

The organizational chart, glossary and terms are provided to give you an understanding of the structure of the entertainment unions, the IATSE and Local 700.



Click on the below links for more information about:

 LOCAL 700 - editorsguild.com  IATSE - iatse.net
 Board of Directors  Leadership                                
 Committees  Districts
 Staff  Locals

Terms, Definitions, and Resources:
 

13 Hollywood Locals - The 13 Hollywood locals are not the only locals of the IATSE, but because Local 700 has so many common interests with these particular locals, we work together as a single collective bargaining unit to negotiate contracts with the AMPTP.*112

The 13 Hollywood Locals consists of:

  • Local 44 - Affiliated Property Craftspersons (https://local44.org/)
  • Local 80 - Motion Picture Studio Grips, Craft Services, Set Medics, Marine Department & Warehouse Workers (https://www.iatselocal80.org/)
  • Local 600 - International Cinematographers Guild (https://www.icg600.com/) (L600 is a National Local)
  • Local 695 - Production Sound Technicians, Television Engineers, Video Assist Technicians and Studio Projectionists (https://www.local695.com/)
  • Local 700 - Motion Picture Editors Guild (https://www.editorsguild.com/) (L700 is a National Local)
  • Local 705 - Motion Picture Costumers (https://www.motionpicturecostumers.org/)
  • Local 706 - Make-up Artists & Hair Stylists (https://local706.org/)
  • Local 728 - Motion Picture Set Lighting (https://www.iatse728.org/)
  • Local 729 - Motion Picture Set Painters & Sign-Writers (https://www.ialocal729.org/)
  • Local 800 - Art Directors Guild (https://adg.org/) (L800 is a National Local)
  • Local 871 - Script Supervisors/Continuity, Coordinators, Accountants & Allied Production Specialists Guild (https://www.ialocal871.org/)
  • Local 884 - The Studio Teachers (https://thestudioteachers.com/)
  • Local 892 - Costume Designers Guild (https://www.costumedesignersguild.com/)

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) – The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is the largest federation of unions and is a democratic, voluntary federation of 60 national and international labor unions that represent 12.5 million working people.*103,*102 It is not a governing body but helps with lobbying, grassroots organizing, fund raising, and recruiting support for political candidates.

More information about the AFL-CIO is available at https://aflcio.org/about-us

IATSE requires all locals to secure and maintain affiliation with their respective State, Provincial and Central Labor bodies, ie. the AFL-CIO or the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). The AFL-CIO has a list of state federations and labor councils at https://aflcio.org/about-us/our-unions-and-allies/state-federations-and-central-labor-councils

American Federation of Musicians (AFM) - 80,000 musicians comprise the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM). They perform in orchestras, bands, clubs and theaters—both on Broadway and on tour. AFM members also make music for films, television, radio, commercials, and sound recordings.

The AFM mission and more information can be found at https://www.afm.org/mission-bylaws/

Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) - The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) Is the trade association designated as the official collective bargaining representative for hundreds of motion picture and television producers, negotiating 58 industry-wide collective bargaining agreements with virtually all guilds and unions (including IATSE and Local 700).*114

Area Standards Agreement (ASA) - Like the Hollywood Basic Agreement, the Area Standards Agreement applies in Production Cities/Centers. Unlike the 13 Hollywood Locals, an ASA local represents multiple crafts that would otherwise be represented separately.

Bargaining Unit - A bargaining unit (or “collective bargaining unit”) is a group of workers with similar interests that are represented by a single labor union in collective bargaining over terms and conditions of employment. The bargaining unit is usually defined in the collective bargaining agreement and described by the employees' type of work, job classification or location. A labor union may have multiple bargaining units. The 13 Hollywood Locals is an example of a bargaining unit.

Basic Agreement - (see Contract Negotiations)

Basic Crafts - The Basic Crafts are made up of the following unions: American Federation of Security Officers (Local 1), Casting Directors (Local 817), Drivers (Local 399), IBEW (Local 40), Office & Professional Employees (Local 174), Plasterers (Local 755), Plumbers (Local 78), Production Parking Assistants (CWA Local 1101), Service Employees (SEIU Local 1877), Studio Security and Fire Association Studio Utility Employees (Local 724) and UNITE HERE (Local 11)

California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO - The California Labor Federation is made up of more than 1,200 unions, representing over 2 million union members in manufacturing, retail, construction, hospitality, public sector, health care, entertainment and other industries. The California Labor Federation is dedicated to promoting and defending the interests of working people and their families for the betterment of California’s communities. From legislative campaigns to grassroots organizing, their affiliates are actively engaged in every aspect of California’s economy and government.*116

They have list of California unions at https://calaborfed.org/blog-roll-list/california-unions/ and a list of labor councils at https://calaborfed.org/central-labor-councils/

More information about the California Labor Federation is available at https://calaborfed.org/about-us/

Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) - The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is the largest labor organization in Canada, bringing together dozens of national and international unions, provincial and territorial federations of labor and community-based labor councils to represent more than 3 million workers across the country.

The CLC is akin to the AFL-CIO in the US, and the IATSE maintains an association with the CLC in the same way.

More information about the CLC is available at https://canadianlabour.ca/who-we-are/

Charter - (see IATSE Charter)

Classification - Each member joins the union under a job classification identifying a specific craft or trade designated under the applicable contract. The member can change their classification during membership. Some classifications allow members to work a job under a different classification.

MPEG Classifications on the west coast can be found at https://www.editorsguild.com/Join/Join-West-Coast,

and include:

  • Animation Editor
  • Apprentice Editor
  • Assistant Editor
  • Colorist
  • Editor
  • Engineer
  • Film Technician
  • Foley Artist
  • Librarian
  • Logger
  • Music Editor
  • Re-recording/Scoring Mixer
  • Recordist
  • Service Recorder/TV Engineer
  • Sound Editor
  • Sound Service Person
  • Story Analyst
  • Technical Director
  • Trailer Editor
  • Utility Sound Technician
  • Videotape Operator

East coast classifications are found at https://www.editorsguild.com/Join/Join-East-Coast

Collective Bargaining - Collective bargaining is the process in which working people, through their unions, negotiate contracts with their employers to determine their terms of employment, including pay, benefits, hours, leave, job health and safety policies, ways to balance work and family, and more.

In 1935, the National Labor Relations Act clarified the bargaining rights of most private-sector workers and established collective bargaining as the “policy of the United States.” In the United States, some three-quarters of private-sector workers and two-thirds of public employees have the right to collective bargaining. The right to collective bargaining also is recognized by international human rights conventions.

Contract Negotiations - Contract Negotiations take place in two phases, Local Negotiations and General Negotiations:

During Locals, each Local (including Local 700) negotiates separately with the AMPTP to work out agreements, including the following: Post Majors, Independents, Screen Story Analysts, Lab Film/Video Technicians & Cinetechnicians. Each local is also assigned a slot of time for local negotiations. The president of Local 700 appoints a negotiating committee composed of a broad representation of classifications, focused on our local proposals.

During Generals, the 13 Hollywood Locals negotiate as a single bargaining unit with the AMPTP. For these negotiations, the IA acts as the bargaining representative, with the IA President as the chief spokesperson, in order to work out multiple contracts including the following: the (Hollywood) Basic Agreement, Side Letters, Videotape Supplemental Agreement

During Basic Agreement Negotiations, the following are discussed: health plans, pension plans and individual account plans (IAPs), CSATF roster and safety training, wage increases and conditions common to all locals.

More information describing the Basic Agreement Negotiations, including an in-depth video containing the same training that the Negotiating Committee received can be found at https://basic.iatse.net/

Term Agreements covering production & post-production are contracts that are not re-negotiated during the Basic Agreement negotiations.

Contract Services (CSATF & CSATTF) - Contract Services is a non-profit formed in the mid-1960s to act as a “one-stop shop” to carry out a long list of regulatory and legal requirements of the collective bargaining agreements between the film and television industry’s West Coast Studio Local Unions and the AMPTP.

Contract Services is composed of two separate tax-exempt trust funds — CSATF (Contract Services Administration Trust Fund) and CSATTF (Contract Services Administration Training Trust Fund) — which are governed by two boards of trustees, the members of which are appointed by the AMPTP. Signatory Producers make contributions to CSATF for each hour worked by or guaranteed a covered employee.

CSATF is a 501(c)(6) business league, which supports the industry by maintaining the Roster, administering apprenticeship and other industry-wide skills training and safety programs, facilitating the creation and maintenance of industry safety bulletins, validating documents and securely maintaining records.

CSATTF is a 501(c)(5) labor organization, which is responsible for developing and operating industry-wide apprenticeship, skills training and safety programs for the IER and other rosters. CSATTF develops and operates the training programs for the rosters.

More information about Contract Services can be found at https://www.csatf.org/about/

CSATF – (see Contract Services)

CSATTF – (see Contract Services)

Directors Guild of America (DGA) - The DGA represents the creative and economic rights of over 18,000 directors and members of the directorial team working in film, television, commercials, documentaries, news, sports and new media. The DGA is managed by a professional staff of more than 170 in Los Angeles and New York and maintains departments to service the members, including Communications, Contracts, Credits, Government and International Affairs, Legal, Membership, Operations, Reports Compliance, Research, Residuals, Signatories, and Special Projects, which work actively to monitor and enforce Guild collective bargaining agreements.

More information about the DGA can be found at https://www.dga.org/The-Guild.aspx

Dues - (see Union Dues and Per Capita)

Editors Guild - (See MPEG).

General Negotiations - (see Contract Negotiations)

Guild – Generally, a guild is an association composed of members in the same trade, and focused on promoting the economic interests of their members, setting standards in their particular craft or trade and providing protection and mutual aid.

Guild Member - A person who has made the appropriate application to the union and is accepted by the IATSE into membership. Being an active member entitles you to voting rights for Board of Directors elections and the Basic Agreement ratification and to attend general membership meetings and any other services provided deemed to only be eligible to members. For example, attending Guild-sponsored events.

For further rights and privileges afforded to members of the Editors Guild (IATSE Local 700), see the Local 700 Constitution & By-Laws.

IA - (see IATSE)

IATSE - The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada (IATSE) is a union for workers in the entertainment industry. It is an international organization representing 160,000 artisans, crafts persons in the entertainment industry which include live theater, motion picture and television production, broadcast and trade shows.

The IATSE’s purpose is to achieve, by organization and mutual endeavor, the improvement of the social and economic conditions of employees identified with the theatrical, moving picture, entertainment, amusement and commercial or industrial show industries of the United States and Canada. The Alliance shall comprise the members in good standing of such local unions as shall hold a charter from this Alliance. The IA’s Constitution and Bylaws shall be the supreme law of this Alliance and of its constituent members. The IATSE bylaws from 2017 can be downloaded from the Guild Website

The IATSE supports the local unions and members by coordinating negotiation of nationwide agreements within the U.S. and Canada, providing its Local Unions with craft, safety, and leadership education, engaging directly in strategic organizing and collective bargaining campaigns and lobbying political and legislative bodies for pro-worker policies.

The IATSE is the official bargaining agent for Local 700 and the other affiliated Locals. Each local has autonomy to conduct the local’s day-to-day business.

The IATSE was organized July 17, 1893; affiliated with American Federation of Labor (AFL), July 1894; affiliated as an International Union, October 1, 1902; affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), December 5, 1955; affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), 1952.

More information about the IATSE is available at https://iatse.net/about/

IATSE Charter - IATSE governs its constituent locals through charters written in its Constitution and Bylaws, which grant locals jurisdiction over the defined work and classifications represented by each local.

The IA Local 700 Charter grants jurisdiction to Local 700 over all post-production picture and sound job functions performed by everyone employed in or doing work in any phase of motion picture editing, specifically to the members in classifications under Local 700. The Local 700 charter also includes members in other classifications such as Story Analysts, Moving Picture Laboratory Film/Video Technicians and Cine-Technicians. (See Classifications for a longer list of Local 700 Classifications, or the IATSE Constitution and By-Laws, Article 18, Section 10, “Classes of Charters and Crafts” for more details.)

No local chartered by IATSE is allowed to negotiate or operate under a collective bargaining agreement with an employer in those defined areas without notifying the IA General Office in writing, with the exception of the local unions located in production cities; and the IA President may assign a representative to participate in the negotiations who must sign any agreement before it can be executed, otherwise the local’s charter may be suspended or revoked.

Each IATSE affiliated local union, subject to the Constitution and Bylaws of the IA, shall exercise full and complete control over its own membership and affairs. This provision shall not be construed to confer upon local unions the power to enact laws inconsistent with any portion of the IA Constitution and Bylaws.

The IA President shall have the power to order the officers of any affiliated local union to submit the books and records of the local union, shall have the power to order any and all members of this Alliance to refrain from rendering service to or with any unfair enterprise, and the obligation of the individual members to obey such an order shall be considered a prior obligation of their contract of employment with such enterprises.

Any member who violates the rules set forth in the Constitution and By-laws of either the IATSE or their local union can be disciplined in the manner provided by the applicable Article.

No IA local union may leave the IA while even a small number of members in good standing are opposed to leaving. The IA is recognized by the AMPTP (and many individual companies) as the exclusive bargaining representative of the classifications traditionally represented by the IA, as defined by the charters.

IATSE Committees - The IA has several committees made of members who have a particular interest in specific issues.

The list of current IA committees are:*104

  • Women’s Committee
    • The Women’s Committee is dedicated to providing networking and mentorship opportunities for women of the IATSE, and to be a meaningful resource for educational tools, social media campaigns, and community outreach and activism.
  • Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee
    • The IATSE Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee provides sustainable resources, guidance, initiatives, and policies to ensure that IATSE is an organization in which all members and leaders, regardless of background or identity, are included and have equitable access to success.
  • Pride Committee
    • The IATSE Pride Committee works to enhance LGBTQ+ members’ inclusion, visibility, and potential for success within the union, the workplace, and the community, across our various crafts and geographic locations. The IATSE is committed to the principle that all people are equal, and therefore deserve respect and fair treatment, regardless of sex, gender identity/expression, or sexual orientation.*101
  • Young Workers Committee
    • The Young Workers Committee aims to engage, encourage, educate, and support the next generation of active IATSE members and leaders to build long-term collective power.
    • The AFL-CIO specifically defines “young workers” as those under the age of 35.*111
  • Disaster Response Committee
    • The Disaster Relief Committee implements new and creative ways to better prepare the membership of the IATSE in the unfortunate event of a disaster and to assist our members in recovering from natural and man-made disasters when they occur.
  • Green Committee
    • The IATSE Green Committee offers education and advocacy for individuals, productions and locals to promote sustainability in all aspects of the entertainment industry.

IATSE Convention - The supreme governmental powers of the IA and its constituent members shall be vested in its duly elected delegates in Convention assembled, and when the Convention is not in session, in the International Officers duly elected by the delegates or appointed in accordance with the IA bylaws.

Convention delegates are elected by and represent the members of their respective locals. Each Local in good standing shall be entitled to send one delegate for its charter and one additional delegate for every one hundred members. All decisions of the Convention shall be by a majority of the delegates voting. If fewer delegates are sent, each delegate can carry more than one vote, with the total number of votes not exceeding the number to which the local is entitled.

IATSE Conventions are held in four-year intervals (quadrennially) at different locations designated by the IA General Executive Board. During these conventions, committees and Officers present required reports, resolutions can be introduced to adopt changes to the IATSE Constitution and/or By-Laws, ad-hoc committees are formed and delegates are assigned to discuss and make recommendations on these proposed resolutions, elections of the President and other Officers are held, salaries of Officers are voted upon, etc. Unlike the usual in-person conventions, the 2021 quadrennial convention was virtual, as were the district conventions in 2020 and 2021, due to the on-going pandemic.

Each IA District also has its own convention at least once every two years, and many Districts meet annually. The District Conventions are for delegates of the affiliated locals to share common interests, problems, receive education and training, and share information about the state of affairs in their local and the IA, as well as coordinate the political and legislative activities of their affiliated local unions.

Resolutions and amendments to the Constitution can originate in the District Conventions immediately preceding the International Convention, but the Districts don’t have any authoritative role within the IA, they cannot enact any IA constitutional changes nor dictate any position or action to be taken by the International.

The chairs of the District 2 convention, in which Local 700 participates, are appointed by the IA International President.

Local 700 elects delegates to represent its membership at the IATSE quadrennial and district conventions. Each delegate must be an active member of the IATSE Local 700 and in good standing for at least two consecutive years to be eligible. Elections for delegates take place every 4 years, in the year immediately preceding each quadrennial convention.

IATSE Departments - The IA has a number of distinct departments, each of which has dedicated staff focusing on different areas or aspects of the work done by members of the IA.

IATSE Departments are:*104

  • Stagecraft Department
    • The Stagecraft Department serves the interests of IA members working in live venues of every kind, and additionally as press agents, house and company managers
  • Motion Picture & TV Production Department
    • The Motion Picture and Television Production Department serves the interests of IA members working to create content for movies, animated films and series, internet content, and television shows.
  • Tradeshow Department
    • The Tradeshow Department serves the interests of IA members working on local, national, and international conventions, exhibitions, corporate meetings, and tradeshows.
    • In addition to negotiating as a co-bargaining agent, the Department is actively involved in developing corporate, contract, and organizing campaigns, building relationships and leverage within and between Locals, and strengthening the work of local officers by standardizing conditions across the industry.
  • Canadian Department
    • The Canadian Affairs Department is spread across the country but works as a tight team, with each person having a specialty or two, from film production to stagecraft, from organizing to political concerns.
  • Education Department
    • The Education & Training Department facilitates and supports a culture of continuous education within the IATSE.
    • Equally dedicated to leadership skills for union officers and craft skills and safety training for workers, the department sponsors and promotes union skills courses and workshops.
    • It also works closely with the IATSE Training Trust Fund, ETCP, USITT, and others to help workers keep abreast of new technologies, equipment, and styles of work.
    • The Department operates outreach programs to high school and college students, creating a link to the workers of tomorrow.
  • Broadcast Department
    • The Broadcast Department serves the interests of IA members working at television stations and in live sports broadcasting.
  • Political and Legislative Department
    • The Political and Legislative Department ensures that IATSE members have a voice in the political process and a role in advancing policies that enhance their lives and work.
    • The department assists local unions primarily through issue education, political and legislative activism campaigns, outreach to elected officials, and election mobilization.
    • Our advocacy is focused on member priorities, advancing legislation that: protects our right to organize; expands our collective bargaining rights; defends our pension funds and health care benefits; enforces strong copyright protections to protect creative content; preserves and expands

federal funding for the arts; expands job opportunities in our industries; and advances equity, diversity, and inclusion.

  • Visa and Immigration Department
    • The Visa and Immigration Department produces Advisory Opinion Letters for various technical positions residing in the entertainment industry, which are generally needed when applying for O and P visa classifications.

IATSE District 2 – (see IATSE Districts)

IATSE Districts – The IATSE Locals are subdivided into 13 geographical districts between the U.S. and Canada. Each district has a designated secretary whose responsibility is to maintain records of the Districts’ activities and finances, coordinate the District’s initiatives among the constituent locals, and facilitate communication between the locals. Each Local is a member of the District in which they have members in residence.

The 13 IATSE Districts are numbered 1 through 14 (there is no District 13).*105

  • District No. 1 – Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Alaska.
  • District No. 2 – California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii. (49 locals, approximately 45,000 members)*115
  • District No. 3 – Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
  • District No. 4 – Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and District of Columbia.
  • District No. 5 – Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico.
  • District No. 6 – Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
  • District No. 7 – Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
  • District No. 8 – Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.
  • District No. 9 – Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.
  • District No. 10 – New York and New Jersey.
  • District No. 11 – Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • District No. 12 – Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, North West Territories and Nunavut.
  • District No. 14 – Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Local 700 along with the rest of the 13 Hollywood Locals are in IATSE District 2, but Local 700 (because it is a national local) is also part of several other Districts, including Districts 1, 3, 7, 10, and 11.

IATSE Officers - The following positions are the elected officers of the IA:*121

  • IATSE General Executive Board (GEB) - The GEB has the authority to adopt policy, authorize expenditures, ratify collective bargaining agreements, amend the International Constitution by unanimous vote and hear appeals from locals and members from decisions of the International President.
    • IATSE International President -
      • Elections are held every 4 years (quadrennially). The President is responsible for imperatives of organizing, bargaining, and servicing the membership.
    • IATSE General Secretary-Treasurer -
      • The Secretary-Treasurer records the business of the General Executive Board and administers financial dealings of the board.
    • IATSE Vice Presidents -
      • There are 13 International Vice Presidents
        • One must be a Canadian resident and member of a District 11 affiliated local
        • One must be a Canadian resident and member of a District 12 affiliated local
        • A third must be a member of a Motion Picture West Coast Studio local
        • A fourth must be a member of a Special Department affiliated local.
  • IATSE Board of Trustees - The Board of Trustees consists of three members.
  • Delegate to the Canadian Labour Congress.

IBT – (see International Brotherhood of Teamsters)

IER - (see Industry Experience Roster)

Industry Experience Roster – In order to work for most but not all union employers in Los Angeles County, you must be on the Industry Experience Roster (IER), which is administered by the Contract Services Administration Trust Fund (CSATF).

The IER lists the names of individuals who have acquired a certain amount of work experience within their specific craft as outlined in each local union's collective bargaining agreement.*108 The IER is not a ‘seniority roster’.

Applying for placement on the IER is a separate and distinct process from applying for union membership.

Additionally, placement on the IER does not automatically trigger union membership nor vice-versa.

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees – (see IATSE)

International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) – The Teamsters are America’s largest, most diverse union. The Teamsters are known as the champion of freight drivers and warehouse workers, but have organized workers in virtually every occupation imaginable, both professional and non-professional, private sector and public sector. There are nearly 1,900 Teamster affiliates throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.*120

More information about the Teamsters can be found at https://teamster.org/

LA County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO - The LA Fed is a federation of over 300 affiliated union and labor organizations representing more than 800,000 members, each with their own unique story and background. Their mission is to protect the rights of working people and improve the lives of their families and communities. They empower workers to organize and take collective action to win better wages and respect in the workplace. They fight for all working families and marginalized communities.*117

More information about the LA Fed can be found at https://thelafed.org/about/

Local – (see Local Union)

Local 399 – (see also International Brotherhood of Teamsters) The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 399 is not an IATSE local, but represents workers in the Motion Picture Industry, such as animal handlers & trainers, casting, couriers, dispatchers, drivers, locations, mechanics, warehousemen and wranglers.*106

Local 700 - (see also MPEG) Local 700 is the charter from the IA for MPEG. Each guild within IATSE is assigned a local number. The local number for MPEG is 700. Therefore, the Editors Guild is the Local 700 under IATSE.

Local 839 - The Animation Guild - The Animation Guild (TAG), IATSE Local 839, has proudly represented animation professionals since 1952.*107

Local Negotiations - (see Contract Negotiations)

Local Union – A local union is a distinct geographical and jurisdictional bargaining unit, which is affiliated with a national or international union, and is the basic unit of union organization.

Each local is given the ability to function independently, maintaining their own Constitution and By-Laws, elections, dues structure, membership meetings, and more. Locals can independently negotiate labor contracts regarding wages, work rules, and grievance procedures. Sometimes contracts are negotiated by a designated negotiation committee in conjunction with other locals under a collective bargaining agreement in order to streamline the process and focus on issues common to all locals involved.

Within the U.S. and Canada, there are more than 360 IATSE local unions whose members make up the rank and file of the IATSE. The IATSE local unions are organized to represent workers by geographic location and craft jurisdiction.*109

Motion Picture Editors Guild - (see MPEG)

Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plans - (see MPIPHP)

MPEG - The Motion Picture Editors Guild (MPEG or the Editors Guild), which is a part of the 366 affiliated local unions of IATSE, is a labor organization currently representing over 8,800 freelance and staff motion picture film and television editors and other professionals in post-production classifications. Additionally, MPEG represents Story Analysts, Technical Directors, Vault Technicians, and Librarians, among others. For the post production classifications, MPEG's jurisdiction is nationwide.

MPEG was originally named “SMPFE - Society of Motion Picture Film Editors,” and was founded on May 20, 1937, with the first contracts ratified later that year. In 1944, SMPFE joined IATSE, was renamed to MPEG and continued to advance its collective bargaining agreements, adding a tiered wage structure, severance pay and expanded vacation pay.

MPEG Board of Directors - The MPEG Board of Directors is a group of guild members elected to represent all members of the guild*122. The board advocates for better working conditions of the members and for the betterment of the guild as a whole.

The duties of the BOD include:

  • approving hiring and firing of all Guild staff, including the Executive Director, business agents, as well as other professionals (including but not limited to attorneys and accountants), and defining their duties and compensation
  • ruling over all matters regarding contract negotiation, subject to approval by the Guild members
  • handling grievances, complaints and fines
  • delegating authority to subcommittees or to the Executive Director, as needed
  • controlling Guild finances, including final approval of committee budgets

The number of Board members is based on the number of members registered in each classification at the time of nominations. If a classification has less than 100 members, they are represented by an At-large Representative.

The term for each Board member is three years. Nominations are accepted during a general membership meeting or prior to elections by written submission. Elections for the open positions are held every year in October during a general membership meeting. The BOD meets every month.

More information about the board of directors can be found at https://www.editorsguild.com/About/Governing-the-Guild, and a list of the current board members and their bios can be found at https://www.editorsguild.com/About/Guild-Board-of-Directors

MPEG Committees – Committees are established by and report to the Board of Directors and members interested in participating on the committees are appointed by the president. Each committee is chaired by a board member. Committees meet on a varying schedule, depending on on-going projects and needs. An individual committee can become inactive when the interest or need wanes.

All committees are an extension of the Board of Directors and, therefore, an extension of the Guild. As an extension of the Guild, all committees and all committee members must act in accordance with professionalism and with regard to holding the union’s principles and integrity at the forefront of each decision and with respect for their fellow committee members.

  • All new Committees are approved by the Board of Directors.
  • The Board approves the mission statement of each committee based on the values and goals for which the committee was created by the Board.
  • The President of the Guild has the sole authority to appoint and remove committee and steering committee members and to select chairs.
  • The number of people assigned to each committee will be conducive to ensuring goals can be met most effectively. The President may seek input from the chair(s).
  • Committee members should earnestly state their personal opinions during committee meetings, but once a majority decides upon an action, it will be honored as the decision of the committee and all members will proceed as a united front.
  • Steering committees will recommend initiatives/events they are interested in pursuing.
  • The chair(s) of the subcommittees will seek approval to proceed from the chair(s) of the Committee.
  • The chair(s) will determine if Board approval is necessary and if so, any follow up will be put on hold until such time as Board approval is adopted.
  • No individual committee member shall proceed with planning or outreach to anyone outside of the committee until final approval is given and committee members are assigned by the chair(s) to do so.
  • Basecamp forums are provided by the Guild for each committee and will be the sole group communication forum. Only direct guild-related topics specific to each committee’s mission should be discussed on those forums.
  • Approval by the Board is always necessary if money beyond the budgeted amounts are being required.
  • If an initiative is a first-time concept, the Chairs will need to seek Board approval. Example: surveys, public statements, social media campaigns, events with outside vendors, etc.
  • Public statements of a political/social nature cannot be issued by any committee/steering committee without approval from the President and National Executive Director, and the Board when deemed necessary. Statements must be written with respect for the fact that Guild membership is made up of people with varying social, political viewpoints and not any one opinion can be assumed to be the opinion of “the membership” or of the “union”.
  • Once an initiative is adopted by the committee, only staff will be responsible for contacting vendors, etc.
  • Members of committees are free to partake in any panel discussions and can identify themselves as being a committee (and/or Board member), but must make it clear they are not speaking on behalf of the Guild, but presenting their personal opinions/observations. Any exceptions to this will first be brought to the chair(s) of the committee and the chairs will seek approval from the Board, President or National Executive Director as appropriate.
  • Chairs should keep their committee members apprised of all financial expenditures and ongoing efforts of the committee.
  • Staff is assigned to assist every committee. The National Executive Director assigns the staff accordingly. All work should be coordinated with the applicable staff person.
  • When producing events, committee members will adhere to established Committee Event Prep Guidelines and PR Guidelines.
  • The utmost importance of our success as a union results from conducting ourselves publicly as one united voice.

MPEG Executive Officers - All Executive offices are automatically part of the board of directors. They are elected by members in good standing. Terms of all officers are 3 years.*123 The duties of each of the officers are described at https://www.editorsguild.com/About/Constitution-By-Laws#XI

MPEG Field Reps - Field reps are responsible for enforcing the terms and conditions of the contracts (MPEG collective bargaining agreements) and policies set forth by the BOD, and acting as advocates and ambassadors

 

of the Guild at social and work-related functions. The number of field rep positions is based on financial considerations and the members’ needs.

MPEG National Executive Director - The duties of the national director are described at https://www.editorsguild.com/About/Constitution-By-Laws#X.

MPEG Staff/Administration - Contact information for the current MPEG staff can be found at https://www.editorsguild.com/Contact.

MPI - (see MPIPHP)

MPIPHP - The Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plans are trust funds established by collective bargaining agreements between many of the unions and employers in the motion picture production industry. They are primarily supported by employer contributions, as provided by these agreements. The Health Plan was established on October 20, 1952, and the Pension Plan on October 26, 1953. Although maintained as two separate legal entities, beginning in 1990, the two Plans merged to form the Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans. The Plans are governed by separate Boards of Directors appointed in equal number by the participating unions and employers.

More information about the MPIPHP can be found at https://www.mpiphp.org/home/aboutmpi

New York City Central Labor Council (NYCCLC) - The New York City Central Labor Council (NYCCLC) is a non-profit labor membership organization devoted to supporting, advancing and advocating for the working people of New York City. As the nation's largest regional labor federation, the NYCCLC brings together 300 local unions from every trade, occupation, public and private sector of the New York economy. We represent over 1 million workers, including teachers, truck drivers, operating engineers, nurses, construction workers, electricians, firefighters, retail workers, janitors, train operators, bakers, and many more who are the backbone of today’s workforce.*118

More information about the NYCCLC can be found at https://www.nycclc.org/about-us

New York State AFL-CIO - The New York State AFL-CIO is a federation of 3,000 affiliated public sector, private sector, and building trades unions throughout the state, representing 2.5 million members, retirees and their families. Their members live and work in every community in the state and reflect the diversity that makes New York great.*119

NLRB - The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is an independent federal agency created to enforce the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The NLRA is a federal law that grants employees the right to form or

 

join unions; engage in protected, concerted activities to address or improve working conditions; or refrain from engaging in these activities.*110

The NLRB investigates any charges filed by union members against their union, a union against employers, or employers against a union. All legal actions go through the NLRB, and it can enforce labor laws relating to collective bargaining agreements and unfair labor practices. The NLRB also supervises elections for labor union representation.

More information about the NLRB is available at https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb

Per Capita - (see Union Dues and Per Capita)

Production Cities/Centers - Production Cities are hubs where the Area Standards Agreement (ASA) locals have jurisdiction.

Roster – (see Industry Experience Roster)

SAG-AFTRA - The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other media professionals.

More information about SAG-AFTRA can be found at https://www.sagaftra.org/about

Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists - (see SAG-AFTRA)

Teamsters - (see International Brotherhood of Teamsters)

Term Agreements - (see Contract Negotiations)

Thirteen Hollywood Locals - (see 13 Hollywood Locals)

Union - A labor union is an organization of workers in a specific industry who have come together to achieve many common goals, such as protecting the integrity of their trade, improving working conditions and safety standards, attaining better wages and benefits such as vacation, health care, and retirement/pension plans.

A union, through an elected leadership and bargaining committee, negotiates labor contracts with employers on behalf of its members and enforces wages, terms and conditions of the contracts for the crafts and job classifications it represents.

Union Dues and Per Capita - Each union member pays dues which cover the cost to operate the local, including staff salaries, facility operation, communication, education, etc.

Per capita fees are paid to the IA by each local on behalf of every active member (and a lower rate for retirees) are distributed as follows:

  • General Fund - used to cover general expenses to operate the Guild
  • Defense Fund - covers donations to IATSE Political Action Committee (IATSE PAC)
  • Convention Transportation and Per Diem Fund - covers the costs of sending delegates to the IA conventions
  • Richard F. Walsh / Alfred W. Di Tolla / Harold P. Spivak Foundation - funds donations to various charitable organizations and scholarships
  • Building Fund - covers office renovation or expansion costs

Union Member - (see Guild Member)

West Coast Studio Locals - (see 13 Hollywood Locals)

WGA - The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is a labor union composed of the thousands of writers and creative professionals who are the primary creators of content for television shows, movies, news programs, documentaries, animation, radio and online media that keep audiences constantly entertained and informed.

The WGA negotiates and administers contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of its members; conducts programs, seminars and events on issues of interest to writers; and presents writers’ views to various bodies of government.

The WGA actually consists of two separate entities, the Writers Guild of America West (WGAw) and the Writers Guild of America East (WGAe), which both provide the same rights, protections, etc. to their members. As of 2023, the Writers Guild of America West (WGAw) has around 12,000 members, and the Writers Guild of America East (WGAe) has over 6,000 members.

More information about the WGAw can be found at https://www.wga.org/the-guild/about-us/guide-to-the-guild, and information about the WGAe can be found at https://www.wgaeast.org/what-is-the-guild/

Writers Guild of America - (see WGA)

Writers Guild of America East - (see WGA)

Writers Guild of America West - (see WGA)

 

PARTIAL LIST OF SOURCES

 

*101 - https://pride.iatse.net/about-us/

*102 - https://aflcio.org/about-us/our-unions-and-allies/our-affiliated-unions

*103 - https://aflcio.org/about-us

*104 - https://iatse.net/about/#departments

*105 - https://iatse.net/about/district-list/

*106 - https://www.ht399.org/the-union/

*107 - https://animationguild.org/new-member/

*108 - https://www.editorsguild.com/Join/Join-West-Coast

*109 - https://www.iatse.net/about-iatse/structure-iatse

*110 - https://www.nlrb.gov/

*111 - https://iatse.net/youngworkers/

*112 - https://www.editorsguild.com/Negotiations-Overview

*113 - https://www.editorsguild.com

*114 - https://amptp.org/

*115 - https://www.iadistrict2.org/

*116 - https://calaborfed.org/about-us/

*117 - https://thelafed.org/about/

*118 - https://www.nycclc.org/about-us

*119 - https://nysaflcio.org/

*120 - https://teamster.org/about/who-are-teamsters/

*121 - https://www.editorsguild.com/Portals/0/Documents/About/IATSE-Constituition-and-Bylaws-2017.pdf

*122 - https://www.editorsguild.com/About/Constitution-By-Laws#VII

*123 - https://www.editorsguild.com/About/Constitution-By-Laws#X

 

Compiled by Membership Outreach Committee Member, Assistant Editor David White