Southern California Wildfires
On January 7, a series of wildfire spurred by strong winds, broke out in Southern California. These fires have devastated the area, with more than forty thousand acres burned and more than one hundred thousand LA County residents having been displaced from their homes. More than three hundred IATSE members have lost their homes in the blaze.
The IATSE has compiled resources to assist those who have been impacted by the fires. This includes everything from shelter locations, financial aid, emergency prescription help, mental health services, legal representation, and tools for recovering critical documents. Please visit www.local695.com/wildfirerelief/ for more information.
Financial Relief for Entertainment Partners
The ongoing 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, ShotPut 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
Following the 2024 election, you might 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 livelihood. 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 membership pin.
Our Local is proud 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.
Local 695 New Members
Zach Hazelwood A2
Pablo Mena Davalos Y-1
Parker Morris Y-1
In Memoriam
Joseph Biedenbach, Projectionist
April 9,1935 – December 14, 2024
Ryan Fecteau, Y-1
December 16, 1975 – December 19, 2024