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How to Join

Member Qualifications and Applications Committee

If you are interested in obtaining and completing an application for membership, or you just want information on membership, please contact:

I.A.T.S.E. Local No 489 Applications Committee

Paul Bucciarelli- Chairperson

vicepresident@iatse489.org

 

 

There are two ways you may work on a union production if you are not a member.

1. Working as a “Permit” on a turned over work call from Local 489.
Failure to comply is cause for appearing before the Executive Board and grieving the production.
A representative authorized to hire for a production must notify Local 489, that it cannot find any requested craft members on the 489 Member Availability List and wishes to place a work call with the Union Business Representative.
The work call must be placed no later than twelve (12) hours before the call.
The Union Business Representative must be given adequate time to fill the call.
The Union Business Representative contacts members of the requested craft, starting with the members who are unemployed.
The person who places the work call may provide names of members to call, otherwise known as a “request call”.
After the “requested” members have been called, the Business Representative will inform the “requestor” if the call has been filled.
If it has not been filled, the “requestor” may provide more member names, or the Union Business Representative will attempt to fill the call by contacting members of the requested craft, starting with the members who are unemployed.
If all members in the requested craft are working and not available, the union will turn over the work call to the “Permit List” allowing them to hire a “permit” (non-489 member worker).

Once you have completed thirty (30) union days, you must submit your application and join Local 489, or you will be removed from any contract production.

2. Organizing a production or position from Non-union to Union.

If you are working on a non-union show, or position which “flips” (becomes a union show, or position) and you accumulate a total of 30 days, you may be eligible to join Local 489.   You must be working on the production prior to the organizing effort.   Once you have completes a total of thirty (30) days, you must submit your application to join Local 489.  Application must be filed within six months from “flip” date.  The local always appreciates any information which may lead to the signing of a non-union production, or position.

Permit List:

What is the permit list and who is it for?

The Permit List was created to give Department Heads/Keys/Firsts and Assistants/Seconds a pool of qualified Pittsburghers to hire from when they exhaust our Availability List and/or Roster and still have positions to fill.

It is for people who would like to join the IATSE Local 489, but do not have previous IATSE 489 work experience.
Notes about the Permit List and how it works:

When a production has exhausted our list of members, they turn to the Permit List to hire qualified people.
The Business Representative contacts “Permits” of the requested craft, starting with the “Permits” who are membership applicants.  If a union member in a hiring capacity wants to give you a job, they must call our Business Agent and get approval from him before hiring you.  Once you have worked 15 days in a Union-covered craft on a contract production, have at least one letter of recommendation from a 489 member and send us pay stubs as verification, you may be eligible to apply for membership.  After 30 days of work, you must submit an application or you will be removed from any contract production.

Permit List applicants have 2 requirements if they wish to get on the Permit List:
1.       A Permit must have a valid Pennsylvania driver's license to get on the Permit List.

2.       A Permit must sign the IATSE 489 Permit Agreement.

To start the process, e-mail the following to treasurer@iatse489.org:
1.       Permit’s name
2.       Permit’s phone number
3.       Permit’s craft(s) – (You may only list up to three crafts) (Must be one of our covered crafts.)

4.       Permit’s e-mail address – YOU MUST HAVE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS TO JOIN.

Permit List applicants have 2 obligations if they wish to remain on the Permit List:
1.       Keep ALL contact information current with the Secretary-Treasurer.

2.       Respond within 10 days to notices sent out by Local 489.

Permit List applicants are given opportunities in the following order:
1.       Pending Applicants, applicants in the process of approval.
2.       New Applicants, applicants waiting to be processed.

3.       Non- Applicants, on the Permit list but no application has been filed

Link to Crafts and Classifications

 

Application Procedures

Joining IATSE Local 489 is a multi-step process that will take some time to complete.
Those who pass the General Membership vote must then be approved by our parent organization, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, its Territories and Canada.  Joining the Local is not a free process.  The initiation fee is a combination of $400.00 and quarterly dues are $62.00, which apply regardless of your employment status.  In addition to these fees, when working in a covered craft on a contract production you will owe 2.5% of your gross wages to the Local.

There are two things that you should consider carefully before applying to the Local.
First, we are not a hiring hall.   You will be responsible for finding work for yourself.   Our responsibility is to protect you once you are working.   
Second, once you join the Local, you will be a member for life.   If you are expelled or take an honorable withdrawal, you will owe back dues to the Local and to the International.   You will have to pay these intervening dues if you wish to rejoin the Local at a later date.   These are not matters to be taken lightly.   Please make sure you understand the consequences of your request.

To become a member, you must:

A.      Identify a Local 489 Sponsor
All Applicants require a Local 489 Executive Board Sponsor.   Further the sponsor’s primary craft must be the same craft as the applicant’s desired primary craft.   In the case where the applicant’s Local 489 Sponsor is not a member of the applicant’s primary craft, the Sponsor must appear at the next scheduled Local 489 Executive Board meeting to ask for a waiver of this specific application provision.

The waiver is subject to approval by the Local 489 Executive Board.

B.      Request that an Application be sent to you from the Local 489 office.

Applications will only be sent when an eligible Local 489 Sponsor is identified and has been confirmed by the Local 489 office.   APPLICATIONS MUST BE SENT BY US MAIL. THEY CAN NOT BE FAXED OR EMAILED

C.      Required Documentation

You must provide the following documentation with your application:

1. Proof of Residency
Provide copies of Proof of Residency within the Local 489 geographical jurisdiction for a minimum of 18 months (Pittsburgh).  The two required documents to verify residency are the following:
a.       A valid Driver’s License from Pennsylvania in the jurisdiction of Local 489 AND
b.      ONE of the following 3 documents:
1.       Voter Registration Card
2.       A home lease to a property in the jurisdiction

3.       Homeownership documents for a property within the jurisdiction

IMPORTANT: If you have NOT lived within Local 489 jurisdiction for 18 months, you must request a waiver from the Executive Board in writing with the application.   A letter requesting the waiver must accompany your application and must:
a.       Ask permission to waive the 18 month residency requirement;
b.      State that your principle residence is the address within Local 489 jurisdiction that appears on your application; and

c.     Explain your reasons for moving to the jurisdiction and your intentions for staying.
The waiver is subject to the approval of the Executive Board

PLEASE NOTE: If you have not lived in the jurisdiction for the required 18 months and are submitting a letter requesting the waiver of that requirement, your Local 489 Sponsor MUST attend the Executive Board at which your application is being considered.

2. Work History

The following document must be provided:  A verifiable Resume of your film work history (including the dates of Productions and the name(s) of your immediate supervisors), education and/or relevant experience.   Your resume must indicate a minimum of 30 days of work within the 24 months immediately preceding this application in the craft in which you are applying or that is related to the craft in which you are applying.   Further, the applicant must provide proof of this work with their application (copies of paycheck stubs, letter(s) from the employer(s), etc).

3. Professional References

Provide THREE (3) signed letters of professional reference.   References must be a minimum of 75 words in length.  TWO (2) references must be from Local 489 members in good standing who have been members of Local 489 for a minimum of 24 consecutive months prior to the reference.   Your Executive Board Sponsor may be one of your two Local 489 references.  ONE (1) reference must be from a prior employer, superior/supervisor, co‐worker or peer, and must include category and/or classification and length of employment.

4. Payment
Include a check or money order, payable to IATSE Local 489, for $462.00 which includes the following:
1.       IATSE Application Fee (Non‐refundable) $ 100.00
2.       Initiation Fee $ 300.00

3.       One Quarters Dues (1/4 of $248 Annual Dues) $ 62.00 {2011}

5. MAIL your complete application package to:

IATSE Local 489
Attn: Applications Committee
P.O. Box 100056
Pittsburgh, PA 15233-0056
ONLY COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGES WILL BE ACCEPTED. ALL INCOMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGES WILL BE RETURNED.

6. Notification
You will be notified upon receipt of your COMPLETE application.
Please note:
While an applicant, if you are called to work on a production in a Local 489 represented craft, you must notify the Local 489 office immediately. 
All Applicants MUST be voted on by the general membership at the bi-annual membership vote meetings. 
Applications must be received by the office no later than the following dates for each membership vote meeting:
2nd Quarter General Meeting & Bi-Annual Membership Vote – Second Sunday in April
  • Deadline for application: February 1st
4th Quarter General Meeting & Bi-Annual Membership Vote – Second Sunday in October
  • Deadline for application: August 1st
Once approved you will be notified with the date to be sworn in to become a member.
You will be sent a Constitution and By-Laws. 

You will also be notified of your current balance.

Executive Board

Departmental Executive Board

Appointed Departmental Representative

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IATSE 489 Permit Agreement94.65 KB