REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT 2021 REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................................. 1 THE OFFICIAL FAMILY .............................................................................................................................................................. 3 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ....................................................................................................................................... 5 IATSE OFFICE OPERATIONS ................................................................................................................................................... 5 CONVENTION TRANSPORTATION AND PER DIEM FUND ......................................................................................... 6 AFL-CIO ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 CANADIAN LABOUR CONGRESS CONVENTION ............................................................................................................. 7 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ................................................................................................................................................ 7 CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS ............................................................................................................................................. 7 IATSE WOMEN’S COMMITTEE ............................................................................................................................................... 8 YOUNG WORKERS COMMITTEE ......................................................................................................................................... 10 IATSE GREEN COMMITTEE ................................................................................................................................................... 12 IATSE PRIDE COMMITTEE ..................................................................................................................................................... 13 DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE ................................................................................................. 14 DISASTER RESPONSE COMMITTEE .................................................................................................................................. 15 AFFILIATED EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUNDS .................................................................................................................. 15 IATSE National Benefit Funds .................................................................................................................................... 15 Canadian Benefit Plans ................................................................................................................................................ 18 Motion Picture Industry Health and Pension Plans ............................................................................................. 18 TRADESHOW AND DISPLAY WORK DEPARTMENT .................................................................................................... 20 STAGECRAFT DEPARTMENT................................................................................................................................................. 24 CANADIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT ................................................................................................................................... 31 MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT ................................................................. 37 COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT .................................................................................................................................... 43 EDUCATION AND TRAINING DEPARTMENT .................................................................................................................. 46 IATSE TRAINING TRUST FUND ............................................................................................................................................. 53 BROADCAST DEPARTMENT ................................................................................................................................................... 56 POLITICAL AND LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT ............................................................................................................ 61 IATSE PAC ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 65 STATUS OF VARIOUS LOCAL UNIONS ................................................................................................................................ 66 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................................................................. 67 INTRODUCTION Our legislative and policy influencing efforts paid off. IATSE members were included among those who Greetings Sisters, Brothers and Kin: would receive extended and increased unemployment For the first time in our long, proud, and storied benefits, lump sum payments, and health coverage history we gather remotely from the expanses of the extensions. Legislation such as the “Save Our Stages” United States and Canada. We do so for the good of Act was introduced in the U.S. to support our employers this great Alliance so that we may move forward into with their efforts to restart operations by making up the future with vision, strength, and solidarity. The for losses due to the pandemic with government grants. well-being of the membership and their families is of The trustees of the IATSE National Benefit Funds paramount importance and so, our work here and over and the Motion Picture Industry Health Plan took swift the past four years remains focused on that end. action to secure and extend health coverage on behalf The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged us in of the participants. Significant relief was granted to many ways. Concern for health and safety being continue crucial health benefits in the midst of this the main priority. We continue to work tirelessly to devastating health crisis. secure and enforce protocols to keep members safe Return to work discussions continue on a number at work. Return to work discussions have taken place of fronts. The parties continue to meet periodically to throughout the industries in which IATSE members discuss and address matters related to COVID-19 in work and we have achieved some of the most stringent motion picture production. That industry has made a requirements possible to keep our members safe. Yet, significant recovery in large part due to the stringent there are still numerous venues that are restricted measures that were negotiated. Infection rates have by government rules and regulations related to large consistently remained far lower among workers adhering gatherings and crowds that prevent or slow our full to the regimen of agreed-upon workplace measures than return to work. Many announcements have been made the general population and most other industries. pointing to reopening all sorts of live events. With the broad distribution of vaccinations there is hope that a While the broad distribution of vaccines has eased return to normalcy is on the horizon. the pressure somewhat, our diligent efforts to secure the safest possible conditions for live events remains a With respect to the IATSE’s response, all of the priority. To that end we have entered into discussions with Constitutional bodies and committees were active in the appropriate parties in various parts of the industry. support of relief for the membership and Locals. The Negotiations with employers in stagecraft (including General Executive Board convened numerous times with the Broadway League), trade-show employers, and putting a number of measures in place. The Board broadcast television employers have taken place, and approved two-and-a-half million dollars to industry the Departments within the International have worked charities to help our members in need. In addition, tirelessly on this top priority. per capita relief was instituted in an effort to prevent Locals from falling into arrears. The tremendous work of the Alliance in these trying times is notable. The craft departments stepped We formed IATSE CARES in an effort to provide up. The Committees including Young Workers, Pride, direct assistance to members most in need and had Women’s, and Disaster Response stepped up. The volunteers sign up to help—member-to-member—by elected officers stepped up. The representatives delivering necessary supplies to those in need. A program stepped up. The Legal Department, Political and was also instituted to check-in on members who were Legislative Department, Education Department and isolated by placing periodic calls to keep them socially Communications Department played an integral role connected. We stood together for the well-being of the in our activities and efforts throughout the pandemic membership and that is always our primary goal. and their exemplary work is worthy of recognition. Among our most important efforts was lobbying I would be remiss to not mention the tremendous government throughout