IATSE Endorsement

Here at the Winter IATSE Executive Board Meeting, the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees has announced it's back a Presidential candidate.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) announced its endorsement of Hillary Clinton for president of the United States.

Based on her long record of fighting for workers’ rights and working families, the IATSE General Executive Board voted unanimously to endorse the former U.S. Secretary of State on Monday, January 11th.

“Hillary Clinton is the only candidate that reached out to discuss issues affecting members of the IATSE,” said IATSE International President Matthew Loeb. “She spent her valuable time discussing our unique issues and challenges with me, demonstrating not just her support of workers in general, but also that she is concerned with the well-being of members of the IATSE.”

Representing more than 125,000 workers in entertainment throughout the U.S. and Canada, the IATSE looks forward to working with Clinton on digital piracy, workers’ rights, misclassification of workers, and other issues affecting behind-the-scenes entertainment workers.

In July 2015, IATSE International President Loeb released a statement in support of Clinton calling out companies that misclassified workers as independent contractors, an issue that directly affects workers represented by the IATSE. ...

An exec board attendee told me that the reaction on social media to the IA's announcement has been varied. Soe folks like it, some are just okay with it, and some "What about Bernie!?".

It's going to be a long, political season. We'll see how this works out.