TAG Membership Status and the IATSE Constitution
While The Animation Guild has its own Constitution and Bylaws, the Constitution and Bylaws of the IATSE (TAG’s parent union) supersede TAG’s. At no time can TAG be in conflict with the IATSE Constitution and Bylaws.
According to the IATSE Constitution and Bylaws, Article 19, Section 4:
“The term ‘in good standing’ as used in this Constitution and Bylaws shall be construed to mean that the member has fulfilled the requirements for membership in their local union and/or the International, and has not voluntarily withdrawn from membership, nor been expelled or suspended from membership either for being in arrears in their financial obligations or for any offense after appropriate trial proceedings consistent with Article Sixteen of this Constitution and Bylaws.”
According to The Animation Guild Constitution and Bylaws, Article 10, Section 1, the above stated a member has met the “requirements for membership in their local union” when they “have fully complied with all their financial obligations to the Local.” In other words, they:
- Have paid their initiation fee in full.
- Have had their membership form approved by the IATSE.
- Are paid up-to-date with their quarterly dues.
TAG Membership Status
Please see the chart at the bottom of this page for member eligibility to vote, run for office, belong to committees, and other privileges based on membership status.
A New Member is in the process of paying off their initiation fees. A new member becomes an active member when: If you go on Honorable Withdrawal while you are a new member, you are on Uninitiated Honorable Withdrawal. If you go on Suspension while you are a new member, you are on Uninitiated Suspension. New members are Not in Good Standing. An Active Member in Good Standing (less than 6 months): An Active Member in Good Standing (1+ year): An Active Member in Good Standing (2+ year): An Active Member not in Good Standing: An Active Member Not in Good Standing can potentially be fired by the studio under the terms of Article 3-A and 3-B of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. A member on Honorable Withdrawal has taken a leave of absence from the union. They must be an Active Member in Good Standing and not working for a TAG signatory studio at the time of withdrawal. Requests for Honorable Withdrawal must either: Requests for Honorable Withdrawal must be received by the Business Office by the tenth day of the quarter, to avoid obligation for that quarter’s dues. A member on Honorable Withdrawal is reinstated when: When being reinstated from Honorable Withdrawal, a member can request a payment plan. Once their payments have been made in full, they become an Active Member in Good Standing. An active Member in Good Standing Reinstated from Honorable Withdrawal less than 6 months cannot vote for a strike authorization per Article 22, Section 4 of the IATSE Constitution and Bylaws: “No member who has not been in good standing for a period of at least six (6) months shall be permitted to vote upon the question of striking.” A member on Honorable Withdrawal is Not in Good Standing. A member on Suspension: A member is not automatically suspended for late dues. Members in danger of suspension will be given an opportunity to pay their dues up-to-date. If these dues are not paid, they will receive prior written notice from TAG, sent by certified mail to their last known address. A member on Suspension can be reinstated when: An active Member in Good Standing Reinstated from Honorable Withdrawal less than 6 months cannot vote for a strike authorization per Article 22, Section 4 of the IATSE Constitution and Bylaws: “No member who has not been in good standing for a period of at least six (6) months shall be permitted to vote upon the question of striking.” When being reinstated from Suspension, a member can request a payment plan. They become an Active Member in Good Standing while they are making payments. A member on Suspension is Not in Good Standing. A member on Voluntary Suspension has not paid off their initiation fees and goes on Withdrawal. A member on Voluntary Suspension can be reinstated when: A member on Voluntary Suspension is Not in Good Standing. Types of Membership Status
Understanding Honorable Withdrawal
When a member goes on Honorable Withdrawal, it does not mean they simply hit pause on their membership, and then when they are reinstated as a member, they pick up where they left off. (See the section below for an explanation of the reinstatement process.)
For members who think they are leaving the industry, Honorable Withdrawal can be the right choice. But while a member can choose to go on Honorable Withdrawal any time they are not working for a TAG signatory studio, it is to their benefit to maintain their status as an Active Member in Good Standing, even if they are between jobs.
Members on Honorable Withdrawal cannot:
- Attend General Membership Meetings
- Participate in votes (contract ratification, Executive Board elections, strike authorization)
- Run for office
- Chair a committee
- See the chart at the bottom of this page for the full list.
The Reinstatement Process
Reinstatement for members on Honorable Withdrawal:
Members on Honorable Withdrawal:
- May request reinstatement.
- Shall be automatically reinstated upon their employment under the jurisdiction of TAG.
Members on honorable withdrawal who are reinstated within 365 days of the date of withdrawal, must pay full dues for all quarters they were on withdrawal.
Members on honorable withdrawal who are reinstated after 365 days have elapsed from the date of withdrawal, must pay a reinstatement fee of $25.00 and either:
- The IATSE per capita fees for the period of withdrawal up to 8 quarters. Per capita fees are also called inactive dues. This is the amount that TAG pays the IATSE per member per quarter.
- Or one-half of the prevailing initiation fee, whichever is less.
Reinstatement for Suspended Members:
Suspended members:
- May request reinstatement.
- Shall be automatically reinstated upon their employment under the jurisdiction of TAG.
If the member:
- Has been suspended for less than 365 days, they must pay the full dues for the period of suspension.
- Has been suspended for 365 days or more, they must pay the full dues for the period of suspension and the IATSE per capita fees for the period of suspension.
In addition, a member being reinstated from suspension must pay a reinstatement fee of $25.00 for each quarter on suspension, to a maximum of $100.00.