IATSE Negotiations Contract Ratification
On July 18, the IATSE announced that its members had overwhelmingly voted to ratify the 2024-2027 Basic, Videotape Electronic Supplemental, and Area Standards Agreements. This brings an end to this year’s IATSE negotiations with the AMPTP. The new Basic and Videotape Agreements took effect on August 1, 2024, while the Videotape Agreement takes effect on October 1, 2024.
The new agreement includes wage increase of 7%, 4%, and 3.5% in the first, second, and third years of the contract, respectively. New residual funding mechanisms have been created to keep the union’s health and pension plan strong and eliminate funding deficits in the coming years. First-of-their-kind AI protections will keep union members at the forefront of technological change in our industry.
In our Local Agreement, new provisions include individual wage increases for boom operators, critical staffing protections for both the Sound and Video Departments, and added the titles of “First Assistant Sound” and “Second Assisstant Sound” to Y-8 Boom Opeator and Y-7A Utility Sound Technician classifications in order to create common language with the sound community across the globe.
Local 695 members can find the complete Memorandum of Agreement and a detailed summart of all changes in these new contracts on our website.
Financial Relief for Entertainment Workers
This year’s prolonged work stoppages have been devastating to the entertainment community across the nation. In Hollywood, our community has been supported by the profound efforts of the Motion Picture Television Fund (MPTF) and the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund). Both these charities have long histories of offering safety-net services and aid for entertainment workers and their families. They aided the entertainment unions, including Local 695, in administering their relief funds throughout the 2023 WGA & SAG-AFTRA strikes against the AMPTP.
Though the strikes have ended, the financial impact will continue to be felt for some time and both MPTF and the Entertainment Community Fund still have resources available to help. If you work in entertainment and you or your family are in need, please visit their websites online at www.mptf.com and www.entertainmentcommunity.org.
IATSE Education
LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) is an excellent source of online training tutorials covering topics such as Avid Pro Tools, Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, After Effects, Illustrator, Rhino, Vectorworks, Final Cut Pro, Filemaker, AutoCad, Cubase, Logic Pro, Shot Put Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Vegas Pro, as well as Project Management, Software Development, Network Administration, Finance and Accounting, Marketing, and much more. All IATSE members are eligible to sign up for a free LinkedIn Learning Account by visiting https://www.iatsetrainingtrust.org/lil
You can also view a multitude of free educational webinars sponsored by the IA Training Trust Fund online at www.gotostage.com/channel/iaeducationforall. These webinars cover a range of topics from labor and voting rights; the basics of equity, diversity, and inclusion; mental health subjects such as depression, substance abuse; physical safety and well-being at work; and so much more.
IATSE PAC
If you are going to donate money during this political cycle, you are highly encouraged to do your research and make sure your money is going where you think it is going. Only donate to reputable, verifiable services that are affiliated with official campaigns. Most political campaigns are only too happy to direct you to their official donation page if you contact them via their official website.
You might also consider donating to the IATSE PAC. This Political Action Committee is run entirely by the IATSE Political/Legislative Department and funded entirely by the donations of IATSE members and staffers. It backs pro-labor candidates whose values align with the IATSE Federal Issue Agenda and all campaigns are thoroughly vetted before the PAC distributes a dime. This is one of the safest ways to donate and be assured that your contribution is supporting candidates who support your liveihood. Since its inception in 1999, the PAC has contributed to candidates who have helped create thousands of IATSE jobs, provided financial support to IATSE members during times of crisis, and expanded the power and budget of the National Labor Relations Board.
Recurring donors receive a quarterly newsletter outlining PAC expenditures and current political updates from the union so that you can remain in the loop as to how your money is being spent. If you pledge to donate at the $10, $20, or $40 a month funding level, you’ll receive a membershipship pin.
Our Local is pround to be a Bronze Level participant in the PAC, thanks to the participation of our members. Our continued support has an impact on the lives of workers and the entertainment community across the nation.
New Members
Local 695 welcomes its new members
Jeffery Coombs Y-4
Sydnee Crichi Y-7A
Joseph Hartshorn Y-8
Paul Padilla Y-3
Nasser Saededdin Y-7A
John Skoglund Y-1
Shayla Tates Y-16A
Barry Weaver Y-4