IATSE Local 489 Studio Mechanics

03/26/2024

Bargaining update!

03/02/2024

Tune in to the livestream of the BASIC CRAFTS’ AGREEMENT RALLY 3/3 at 2PM EST.

For the first time since 1988, IATSE, Teamsters, IBEW, OPCMIA, UA and LiUNA! will negotiate together for the Motion Picture Pension Industry Pension and Health Plan (MPIPHP) benefits. Those negotiations begin on March 4, the day after the rally.

⚠️Workers under the Area Standards Agreement are generally not covered by this plan, and are rather covered by the National Benefit Funds. The ASA negotiations are not expected to begin until the end of April.
⚠️Please note that ASA specific rallies in other cities may be held closer to this date.
⚠️IATSE 489 is under the ASA

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
⚫️IATSE International President, Matthew D. Loeb
⚫️Teamsters General President, Sean M. O’Brien
⚫️IATSE International Vice President, Michael F. Miller
⚫️Teamsters Local 399 Principal Officer / Chairperson of the Hollywood Basic Crafts, Lindsay Dougherty
⚫️AFM President, Tino Gagliardi
⚫️DGA Executive Director, Russ Hollander
⚫️SAG-AFTRA Executive Director, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland
⚫️WGA-W Vice President, Michele Mulroney
Los Angeles Federation of Labor President, Yvonne Wheeler
⚫️California Federation of Labor Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Lorena Gonzalez

⚠️LIVESTREAM
https://youtube.com/live/p23eSi3gIlE

IATSE, the Teamsters, and the Hollywood Basic Crafts will host a pre-negotiations kickoff rally on Sunday, March 3rd at Woodley Park in Encino.

All the below-the-line unions are committed to addressing the unique priorities of each craft and we are united in our fight — our mission — to win on issues that affect all of us like economics, sustainable health and retirement benefits, safe working conditions on and off set, among other issues.

This rally is an opportunity to show the collective power and resilience of film and tv workers, and ensure the important contribution to filmmaking each craft behind-the-scenes brings is recognized.

The rally is open to all of Hollywood labor as a show of solidarity and support for this year’s bargaining cycle in Hollywood. For those who cannot attend, this rally will also be livestreamed. More information regarding the livestream will be forthcoming.

WHAT: Negotiations Kick-Off Crewmember Rally with Speaker program including prominent Labor Leaders.

WHO: Organizing Unions are IATSE, Teamsters, IBEW, OPCMIA, LiUNA! and UA on behalf of their members about to enter negotiations with the AMPTP. All of Hollywood Labor are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

WHERE: Woodley Park Section 1: 6076 Woodley Ave, Encino, CA 91316

WHEN: Sunday, March 3rd Start Time: 10AM Speaker Program: 11AM – 12PM Pacific

RSVP: iatse.co/2024-contract-kickoff

02/14/2024

The Negotiating Committees — consisting of IATSE members representing each of the 38 involved local unions in addition to subject experts, staff, and elected leaders — remain engaged drafting the proposals that address the issues members brought to the committees through the democratic process.
The Communications Subcommittees launched two microsites, one for the Basic and one for the ASA, the contract Local 489 falls under) (https://asa.iatse.net/). At launch, these resources included roadmaps of the negotiation process, historical context and past priorities, in-depth negotiation educational videos, and a toolkit featuring “Many Crafts, One Fight” campaign branding. The sites are living documents and will be updated with new information, resources, and announcements regularly.
The Negotiating Committees’ goal is to educate and inform the IATSE membership through direct communication. Members should continue to expect to receive accurate and up-to-date information before the press or the general public.
For future bargaining updates, look for direct communications to come via email through your local union, and in some cases subsequently published on the official microsites, IATSE.net (https://iatse.net/)
, and/or official union social media channels.

02/11/2024

A look at the Pittsburgh film industry on WTAE
Thank you to Pittsburgh Film Office, Dawn Keezer, Senator Camera Bartolotta!

The state's film tax credit program has helped bring hundreds of productions to the Pittsburgh area, but those in the local film industry say the money is tight.

02/07/2024

01/20/2024

Election of Local 489 Officers and Trustees is live! Ballots end at 3:00PM on 2/2/24. Find yours in your email!

01/18/2024

Note: Ballots will be sent out Friday, 1/19/24 at 3pm; watch your email for the link through Simply Voting.

Want to get more involved but an elected position isn’t for you right now? 489 has a lot of committees and many still have seats open!
Reach out here or shoot Bobbi-Jo an email at [email protected]

01/05/2024

Get your votes in! All members in good standing are encouraged to participate in an important vote - increasing our President’s paid hours.
Local 489 and the Western Pennsylvania film industry have grown substantially since 2008. Under its current leadership, the International is encouraging broader participation from locals and expanding programs that benefit members and promote a national climate in which unions thrive. Local 489’s membership has tripled in the past decade and leadership needs have grown with it. The President’s role in Local 489 has grown to take on pressing responsibilities.
The current President estimates 2,800 hours of unpaid work on behalf of Local 489 over the past three years. As a labor organization fighting for fair wages, we should not expect our own president to work for free.
As it stands, the President’s hours are budgeted at 36 hr/mo at the 3rd rate. This vote aims to bring the paid hours closer to the Business Agent’s, which were budgeted as 110 hr/mo at the 2nd rate for the last cycle.
This increase in the President’s budgeted hours better reflects the responsibilities of the office and will help to support the office going forward as Local 489 continues to evolve alongside the growing local film industry.

The voting only takes a minute, please participate!

Check your email for more info.
Voting ends 1/8/24 at 11:59pm.

12/17/2023

Today’s the day! Your vote matters!

11/27/2023

🗓️ Save the date! ASA Town Hall Meeting 11/28 6-8PM.
The contract Negotiations Committee will be discussing the proposals they’ve written based on last years’ poll, as well as explaining what you can expect in the process this time around. The IA has revamped how the ASA locals take part in the process and they’re excited to share how this will work!

Yinz are all encouraged to attend and to ask questions!
Check your email for the zoom link that came out 11/21.

11/16/2023

CALL TO ACTION!
Participate in the Red Cup Rebellion!
On Thursday, 11/16, Starbucks workers are going on strike and are asking customers and allies to hold solidarity actions outside of non-union Starbucks stores to demand Starbucks respect union rights.
Come out and support local workers!
From 10:00-12:00 at the following Starbucks locations:
808 Ridge Ave�3618 Forbes Ave
6305 Forbes Ave
730 Copeland St
2345 Murray Ave
114 Bakery Square Blvd
4885 McKnight Rd
4185 Wm. Penn Hwy

11/09/2023

Let’s get back to work!
Solidarity with all of IATSE come our time to negotiate!

11/06/2023

Tomorrow is Election Day!
Sisters, Brothers, Kin,

Polls will be open Tuesday, November 7th from 7 AM until 8 PM.

If you need to verify your polling place, have a question about a mail-in ballot, or need additional information about voting, please visit https://www.vote.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx (https://www.vote.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx) or call The Allegheny County Elections Office at (412)350-4500.

If you submitted your vote by mail in ballot, you can check its status by visiting www.votesPA.com/MailBallotStatus (http://www.votespa.com/MailBallotStatus)

10/27/2023

Did our last round of contract negotiations make you more aware of your labor wants and needs? Have you filled out the 2024 Contract Survey??
This is your opportunity to have your voice heard!

The purpose of this survey is to learn what our members want to see our union fight for when negotiations begin in January. The more participation we have, the more we empower our representatives across the dozens of IATSE Local Unions under IATSE-AMPTP Agreements with an accurate picture of the membership’s demands.

This power can mean a faster resolution to our negotiations and hopefully avoid a strike that would result in more loss of work.

What does your union do for you? It fights for you.
Fill out the survey so it can get you what you need!
Your answers are anonymous. Find the link in your email or contact the secretary for more info.

09/01/2023

ello all-
Come walk in the biggest Labor Day Parade with us.
Monday September 4th. We'll be lining up around 8:00 am near the corner of Crawford Street and Wylie Avenue. Centre Avenue closes around 7:00 am so keep that in mind when planning your arrival. Please wear your 489 gear or grab a new t-shirt from us that day. We'll have some posters to show solidarity with SAG-AFTRA & WGA. The parade begins at 10:00 am.

Hope to see you there to celebrate the working people in this great city. Happy Labor Day to all!

04/23/2021

We would like to extend our sincere congratulations to our own George Jaber. On May 12 Steeltown Media Project will be honoring him with the annual Legacy Award at The 2021 Elly Awards Virtual Gala. The Legacy Award honors Pittsburgh film educators and industry heroes. We cannot think of a more fitting honoree than George. From his years of work in the industry as a member and officer of 489, to his unshakeable faith in and ultimate realization of his dream of creating a film technician training program at the Community College of Allegheny County, George's countless contributions to film in Pittsburgh exemplify both categories.

This year George celebrated 40 years as a teacher and mentor to thousands of students. Today, many of those students who passed through his classroom can now call him coworker as well, thanks to his dedication and love for his craft.

Congratulations George!

03/25/2021

We are so proud of IATSE 489 member, Decorator Diana Stoughton on her well deserved Oscar nomination for Pittsburg filmed “Ma Rainey”https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/movies/2021/03/25/set-decorator-diana-stoughton-ma-raineys-black-bottom-august-wilson-george-wolfe-chadwick-boseman/stories/202103250007

She’s been a staple in the art departments of projects filming in Western Pennsylvania since the late ‘80s.

03/20/2021

Our congratulations to the Pittsburgh Crew members who lent their considerable talent to "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" and "Judas and The Black Messiah"

03/20/2021

"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" received a nomination for Best Costume Design. Congratulations to our local Wardrobe Crew whose hard work and attention to detail were vital to realizing Ann Roth's vision on screen.

https://www.indiewire.com/2021/03/costume-designer-guild-nominations-ma-raineys-black-bottom-1234621109/

Other nominations went to "Mank," "Da 5 Bloods," and "One Night in Miami."

03/20/2021

"On behalf of the entire Ma Rainey Art Department - Karen, Diana and I am thrilled to be nominated by our peers in the Academy. Profound thanks to George C. Wolfe for his vision and guidance, to Denzel Washington and Todd Black for their leadership, to the Cast and our Pittsburgh Crew and to Netflix for their support. Many Congratulations to our fellow nominees in the category of Production Design - and in honor and memory of Chadwick Boseman and August Wilson."

Mark Ricker, Production Designer

https://artdepartmental.com/blog/2021-best-production-design-oscar-nominations-announced/

02/26/2021

https://iatsecares.org/2021/02/25/iatse-pride-committee-commends-us-house-on-passage-of-the-equality-act/

We applaud the US House of Representatives for passing the Equality Act (H.R. 5). This important legislation amends existing civil rights laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1967 and the Fair Housing Act, to explicitly prohibit discrimination against LGBTQIA+ individuals in the areas of employme...

11/05/2020

Make every vote count.

10/25/2020

Sisters, Brothers, and Kin —

With the ongoing talks for a successor COVID-19 relief bill, we are still very much in the fight to ensure entertainment workers are included and that the current crisis is addressed as comprehensively as the current crisis requires.

IATSE is a proud partner of the campaign, joining our collective voices with entertainment workers, talent, employers, venues, and others “to save the people who power American live events and culture.” Click here to visit their website for a list of partner organizations.

We contributed significantly to the legislative asks of the campaign in order to secure our partnership. Many of our IATSE legislative priorities for subsequent COVID-19 relief are focal points of the campaign – such as extending unemployment insurance, passing a 100% COBRA subsidy, and passing the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act to ensure tax fairness for workers.

It is, however, worth noting that our IATSE specific campaign “Top Priorities for Entertainment Workers in Subsequent COVID-19 Legislation” (iatse.co/rep)remains our primary call to action for legislative relief. That is the ONLY campaign that encompasses ALL of our worker priorities for a subsequent COVID-19 relief bill. Nevertheless we are always looking for opportunities to partner with allied organizations to advance shared legislative goals, like the campaign.

Click here to tell your legislators to through the campaign’s tool.

In solidarity,
Team IATSE

The entertainment industry will continue to be disproportionately impacted by this health crisis and we need to ensure that that subsequent COVID-19 legislation puts workers first.

10/21/2020

Dear 489 Community,

Our local 2nd AD, Michelle Skaneski, is in need of your support and good vibes. Her three year old daughter, Skyla, is battling childhood cancer, and will need care well into her adult life. This has been a tremendous shock for Michelle and her family, and it is considerably hard to watch such a tiny but exuberant life receive this kind of treatment.

Here is the link where you can read more as well as donate:
https://gf.me/u/y5rq8n

We can always count on the Pittsburgh Film community to help each other out, and I thank you in advance for reading her story. Even if you cannot donate, please keep her family in your thoughts and please share the fundraiser to others personally or on social media platforms.

2020 has been a difficult year, and I know you are all experiencing plights of your own. We wish you all the love and kindness, and hope that as we support each other, we lift each other up from the darkness.

Mike Bubba Matesic
President
IATSE local 489
PO box 100056
Pgh. PA 15233
412-980-4890
[email protected]

Dear Friends and Family, In the midst of a pandemic, a routine checkup for Michelle Skanesk… Maranda Wodzinski needs your support for Help Skyla kick cancer!

10/21/2020

This year, millions of Americans will cast their ballots away from polling stations for the first time.

Depending on your state, factors such as improperly completed paperwork, having a signature that doesn’t match your driver’s license, or even placing your ballot in the wrong envelope can result in your vote being nullified by election officials.

We want to make sure that EVERY IATSE VOTE is counted this November, that’s why we have compiled a handy list of state ballot tracking resources that can be used to ensure your voice is heard and your ballot gets counted.

Click here to view state by state ballot tracking resources https://iatsecares.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020-10-15-Ballot-tracking-resources-1.pdf?link_id=5&can_id=98cd5b94023b796c1497f48f1e2b2f52&source=email-did-your-vote-get-counted&email_referrer=email_967013&email_subject=did-your-vote-get-counted

10/11/2020

IATSE Local 8 added 11 new class offerings of OSHA 10 General Industry Online for FREE to all members of IATSE and persons on their extra list. This is the IA Internationals OSHA 10 GES Course specifically designed for workers in the Entertainment Industry. We are offering weekly classes thru December 31. If your members are interested, they can register at: www.iatse8.com/osha10 – Dates & Times may change.

We are trying to train another 350 members before OSHA stops the online training.

Dates:

October 14th & 15th

October 19th & 20th

October 28th & 29th

November 2nd & 3rd

November 11th & 12th

November 16th & 17th

November 30th – December 1

December 9th & 10th

December 14th & 15th

December 28th & 29th

10/11/2020

Good morning IATSE Political Coordinators –



I wanted to make you aware that the limited edition IATSE Supports Biden-Harris pins are now available for purchase in the online store via the following link:

https://www.iatseswag.net/si/154259461/ia-lp-bid/iatse-supports-biden-harris



Supply is limited, so be sure to order yours today!

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