Tag Archives: IATSE

TAG Resolutions Pass at D2 Convention

The 79th District 2 Convention, held June 9th–11th in Hawai’i, saw a record turnout with 235 registered delegates in attendance. The Animation Guild delegates submitted resolutions to the assembly. Below are brief summaries of the four TAG-submitted resolutions that were passed.

Resolution to encourage that access, time, and accommodations be provided for expressing breast milk in the workplace.

Many work sites and venues that employ IATSE members do not provide for employees who need to pump/express breast milk. The frequent need to express breast milk, combined with the lack of a designated, accessible, and clean space, often causes stress for affected employees, which can result in health problems including the reduction of breast milk production. On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP Act), which emphasizes that reasonable break time and non-bathroom space shielded from view be provided for most lactating employees. IATSE District 2 Locals resolve to encourage their employer signatories to provide reasonably sufficient time, easy access, and private space for employees for use while expressing breast milk. In addition, IATSE District 2 Locals shall increase awareness of this issue and commit to making efforts to destigmatize the practice of breast pumping. (This resolution was also submitted by Locals 706 & B192, 720, and 800)

Resolution to expand transgender medical treatments and surgeries covered by health insurance plans in IATSE Collective Bargaining Agreements.

Trans members of our Union are vocal about the hardships they face accessing necessary gender-affirming operations and procedures that protect their livelihoods. They spend countless hours debating with insurance companies who demand exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses for gender-affirming medications, surgeries, and procedures. Many scientific and academic studies show that depression and anxiety decreased for trans people who sought out gender-affirming care, and that gender-affirming therapies improve the mental health of transgender people significantly. Low-cost governmental insurance already covers procedures that private plans do not, and while our leadership has started the task to expand medical coverage for trans people under our health insurance, we encourage them to continue fighting. IATSE District 2 Locals commit to review health plans for their members to endeavor to include coverage for gender-affirming medications, surgeries, and procedures to ensure the most up-to-date World Professional Association for Transgender Health standards of care and to ensure that means of access and information are made readily available and easily accessible.

Resolution to support our LGBTQIA+ members and communities.

Unions are stronger when we refuse to be divided by sex, sexuality, and gender, in the same way we refuse to be divided by race, religion, birthplace, age, culture, or physical and mental ability. Our Union stands with these members in solidarity and has provided outreach to these communities and has in turn been enriched by their many contributions in every corner of IATSE. Committing to defend our LGBTQIA+ members promotes the mission of the Union now and in the future as stated in the IA Equality Statement:

We believe that equality for all is a basic human right and we actively oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination. IATSE leaders and members must be vigilant in working, both with each other and with our employers, to promote an equal and welcoming environment for all people, through our actions, attitudes, and language. The IATSE celebrates the diversity of society and is striving to promote and reflect that diversity within this organization.

IATSE District 2 Locals will be encouraged to review their PAC and political contributions to ensure that no current and future donations go toward politicians or groups that negatively target our LGBTQIA+ membership.

Resolution for adoption of comprehensive fertility and adoption benefits for IATSE District 2 members.

Access to fertility treatments can be limited and expensive, and many insurance plans do not cover the full cost of these procedures. Offering fertility benefits can help support diverse family structures, including same-sex couples and single parents by choice, address health disparities, promote work-life balance, and demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity. Offering fertility benefits can also reduce the stigma and isolation experienced by individuals and couples facing infertility, providing a sense of community and support. In addition, adoption can also be a costly and challenging process for individuals and families, and access to adoption benefits can help support and promote diverse family structures. IATSE District 2 Locals resolve to support the adoption of comprehensive fertility and adoption benefits in the medical plans provided for all members, including coverage for the following:

  • In vitro fertilization (IVF), including medications, consultations, monitoring, and embryo transfers.
  • Egg and sperm freezing.
  • Surrogacy and gestational carrier services.
  • Fertility preservation for medical reasons such as cancer treatment.
  • Donor egg, sperm, and embryo service.
  • Genetic testing and counseling related to fertility and family planning.
  • Mental health support for individuals and couples going through fertility treatments.
  • Adoption assistance, including reimbursement for agency fees, legal expenses, and travel costs.

Make a Difference as a D2 Delegate

Your Chance to Make a Change

Every year The Animation Guild sends Delegates to the IATSE District 2 Convention wherever it’s being hosted. In 2020, the 76th Convention was scheduled to take place in June, but the pandemic and stay-at-home orders delayed the convention until October and then forced it online, where Delegates carried out the usual business of education, leadership, and moving our union forward. Then last summer, the District 2 and Quadrennial Conventions were held virtually again; the Guild had 35 Delegates attend the event online from home. Guest speakers at the Quadrennial Convention included US Senator Chuck Schumer, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Professor Anita Hill, and US Representative Adam Schiff, and most of the discussion and work focused on the convention’s theme: “Together We Rise.”

IATSE District 2 represents 45,000 members across 49 local unions in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Hawai‘i, and those Locals usually convene in various cities in those four states to craft policy and make decisions to protect IA workers and improve working conditions in our industries. Delegates represent their Locals as they work on issues that are important to fellow members in the entertainment industry. Representatives of the Animation Guild who serve as Delegates have an opportunity to learn more about how Local 839 and the IATSE work, meet union members from other Locals and the IA’s offices, serve on committees that are doing the real work of running our labor unions, take part in discussions, and vote on amendments and recommendations that will affect this Local and others in District 2. Our President, Jeanette Moreno King, and Business Representative, Steve Kaplan, are automatic Delegates, and any other active member in good standing (no fees owed, dues fully paid up) is eligible to be elected. For the last fewyears, The Animation Guild has sent the largest Delegation to the Conventions—more than any other IATSE Local!

If you’re interested in representing the Guild at the IATSE’s District 2 Convention this year, here are some things to know. As of this printing, the event is scheduled to be held in-person. The 2022 District 2 Convention will be held June 24-26 at the San Francisco Westin Hotel. Delegates will be signing in to meeting and committee sessions and working with members of other IA Locals. You’ll be assigned to at least one committee and expected to take part in discussion and voting. If you are ready to join others who want to make a difference and play an active part in planning, problem-solving, and decision-making, then this is the event for you! Further information will be provided asit becomes available.

Elections for Delegates to the District 2 Convention will be held at the General Membership Meeting on March 29, 2022, which will take place via Zoom video conference. You can nominate yourself or someone else, or get a fellow member to nominate you. And if you can’t make it to the meeting that night, send an e-mail ahead of time Local 839’s Recording Secretary at paula.spence@tag839.org to let her know you’re interested—then make arrangements to have someone who will be at the meet- ing nominate you. We’ll talk about more details at the meeting, so join us then andconsider volunteering to make something important happen!

More about Delegate Nominations

According to Article six, Section six of our Constitution, our delegate elections are held at the General Membership Meeting at least two months prior to the Convention. This puts the delegate elections for the 2022 District 2 Convention at this month’s meeting. After receiving approval from President Loeb, we will be holding the delegate elections virtually as we did last year.

The March General Membership Meeting will be held via Zoom Webinar on March 29th. In Zoom Webinar, the general membership present cannot view who is in attendance, but hosts and panelists can. During the meeting, as our Constitution provides, we will call for District delegate nominations by asking any participant present to “raise their hand”. We will hear all members whose hands are raised, and collect nominations to be a delegate. If you’re at the meeting, you can nominate yourself!

Should we receive fewer delegate nominations than votes afforded us (44 per District Secretary-Treasurer Anthony Pawluc), our Recording Secretary will cast a unanimous vote for all candidates and shall dispense with the requirement of a secret ballot vote for the office of Delegate per Article Six, Section Six of our Constitution. Should we receive more candidate nominations than votes afforded us, we will engage the American Arbitration Association to hold a secret ballot election of the membership as soon as practicable. The certified results of that election will set our official delegation.

If you are interested in being a delegate, please plan to attend the March General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, March 29th. We will be sending out more information soon on how to register to attend that meeting. If you cannot attend the meeting and want to be a delegate, you can email Recording Secretary Paula Spence (paula.spence@tag839.org) with your intention to accept a nomination made for you, and ask a friend who is attending the meeting to nominate you. If you are having trouble finding someone to nominate you, email our Business Represenative, Steve Kaplan, to let him know (steve.kaplan@tag839.org).

Resources for California Wildfire Victims

Our hearts go out to our Union brothers and sisters who have been affected by the recent wildfires, and we wanted to share several resources that are available to them.

OPTUM

Optum is offering a free emotional support help line for all people impacted. This help line will provide those affected access to specially trained mental health specialists. The company’s public toll-free help line number, 866-342-6892, will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for as long as necessary. This service is free of charge and open to anyone. Specially trained Optum mental health specialists help people manage their stress and anxiety so they can continue to address their everyday needs. Callers may also receive referrals to community resources to help them with specific concerns, including financial and legal matters.

Along with the toll-free help line, emotional-support resources and information are available online at www.liveandworkwell.com. View the Important Communications alert on liveandworkwell.com near the bottom of the member home page for local resources.

You can find the following resource centers by using a keyword search on liveandworkwell.com

·         Disaster Planning & Recovery Center: Type the keyword “disaster” into the search bar, select the Disaster Planning & Recovery Center. Here you’ll find information on preparing for and recovering from natural disasters and links to national organizations too.

·         Coping Center: Type the keyword “coping” into the search bar, select Coping. Here you’ll find articles, guides, self-help tools and videos on coping with stress.

Optum covered members (EAP and behavioral health customers) continue to have their ongoing resources including Critical Incident Response Services (CIRS). We recommend they access through their account-specific support numbers. Emotional-support resources and information are also available online at www.liveandworkwell.com.

MPTF
Members of the film and television community in Southern California affected by the wildfires can contact MPTF at (323) 634-3888 for assistance. 

Union Plus
If you are a union member who participates in certain Union Plus programs and have been affected, you may be eligible for financial assistance through the Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant program. The Union Plus Disaster Relief Fund has provided nearly $1 million in assistance to union members facing hardship following floods, wildfires and other natural disasters. Head to the Union Plus Disaster Relief Fund page to learn more about the benefits and eligibility requirements.

IATSE

Financial relief is available for IATSE members affected by the fire through the Walsh/Di Tolla/Spivak Foundation. IATSE members in need of assistance should submit a written request to Local 839. Local unions will then forward any requests to the Walsh/Di Tolla/Spivak Foundation for review by the Foundation’s trustees. Please email us at membership@tag839.org with any questions.

We also encourage IATSE members who are not directly affected by the fire to donate to the Walsh/Di Tolla/Spivak Foundation. Money from the Foundation helps pay for shelter, food, clothing, and other necessities to help our affected IATSE sisters and brothers get through this difficult time.

Checks should be made payable to the “Walsh/Di Tolla/Spivak Foundation” and mailed to:

The Walsh/Di Tolla/Spivak Foundation c/o IATSE
207 W. 25th St., 4th Fl.
New York, NY 10001

Entertainment Community Fund
Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund) provides information for disaster relief on their website.