COVID19

Brothers and Sisters,

We hope that you are staying safe and that you and your loved ones are well. 

We will continue updating this page as news develops as well as subsequent tabs "UC and Government Assistance and Iatse International Communication".   

Please send questions or concerns or any articles, links, information that you believe may help our members to Webmaster@iatse489.org

 

ASSISTANCE AND UPDATES

PENNSYLVANIA PRIMARY NEWS

The PA primary election has been rescheduled to Tuesday, June 2. Also, a new mail-in ballot option is available to ALL Pennsylvania voters.  You can Vote from the comfort and safety of your home:  Visit VotesPA.com  ALL Pennsylvania voters now have the option to vote by mail for any reason or no reason at all. You can apply for a mail-in ballot or a traditional absentee ballot online, by mail, or in person, until one week before the election. For help or to receive a paper application by mail, please call 1-877-VOTESPA.

You can also sign up to become a permanent mail-in or absentee ballot voter and automatically receive ballots by mail for the rest of the year.  For the 2020 primary, your application must be received online or by your county election office by 5 pm Tuesday, May 26. Applying online is easy, quick and secure. If you provide your email address, you will receive notifications about your application and ballot status.  Once you receive your ballot in the mail, you have until 8 pm on election day,  June 2, to deliver your completed ballot to your county election office. If you are mailing it, do so as early as you can to ensure it arrives on time.

Voters who have already requested a mail-in or absentee ballot will receive a ballot for the rescheduled primary. There is no need to apply again if your address remains the same. If your address has changed since you applied, please contact your county election office to provide your updated address.  

Other important election-related deadlines have also changed. The new deadline to update your voter registration is Monday, May 18. Please visit www.register.votespa.com to update your registration today.

To stay up-to-date with the latest and most accurate election information in Pennsylvania, visit votesPA.com. Please share this email with your friends and neighbors to help spread the word! 

A NOTE TO MEMBERS FROM OUR PRESIDENT

Due to the CDC’s warnings as of 3:25 on March 16th, 2020, to keep a handle on the virus there is a need to limit gatherings to 10 people or less.  So we are making the decision to postpone the April general membership meeting to a later date. If the CDC retracts the warnings this could change. The Eboard will be attempting to meet via video conferencing to make sure the membership gets all the resources needed at this time.

If you are wanting to volunteer to help members in need in these troubling times please email me at president@iatse489.org.  

Keeping all safe is our number one priority, please wash your hands often.  If anybody needs anything don’t hesitate to give me a call you have plenty of brothers and sisters beside you.  Be well.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Iatse Local 489 members are giving back during these trying times and you can help!
Kelly Roofner and a few other members have been working here to get food out:
https://412foodrescue.org/

Our amazing Ange Vesco, Brick Brickman & Jen Gooch are running Operation Face Mask & they are here: https://operationfacemask.com/diy-mask/

"I can't thank my IATSE 489 union siblings enough for all their support. I've never been in a union before, and have only been a part of our union family for a year. These last 5 weeks, however, have shown me the true spirit of Unionhood – of standing strong together when times make us individually overwhelmed. My right and left arm are Ange Vesco (OFMP Volunteer Coordinator and IATSE 489 Costume Rep) and Brick Brickman (OFMP Distribution Coordinator and IATE 489 Paint Rep). Getting us up and running with Graphics was Raquel Bouvy (OFMP & IATSE489 Graphics Artist), our OFMP Buyer is Jaime McCracken (IATSE 489 Costume Buyer), and our first stitcher volunteer was Eileen Stroup (IATSE 489 Costume Supervisor and Ager-Dyer). Most of our distribution center is furnished by Set Dec/Art Dept Leadman Justin Pelissero (who also donated 2-ply TP –thanks bro). So many union sibs have donated vacuum sealers, materials, food, money, and most of all, volunteer hours. We now have 80+ active volunteers, and are pumping our masks to individuals and essential workers of our city as quickly as possible. Anyone is welcome to sign up to make a donation, volunteer their skills and time, or request a mask off of our website. We're making a difference in our city, and it's thanks to our strong union family."
- Jenn Gooch Tailor, IATSE 489

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IF YOU FEEL SICK

If you have these symptoms (Click this LINK) or you think you might have been exposed to the virus, you should contact a healthcare provider immediately.

Please do not go to a doctor’s office or hospital emergency room without calling ahead. 

If you don’t have a primary health care provider or know whom to call, contact the Allegheny County Health Department.

You can send them a message on their web site here(Click this LINK) or you can call the 24-hour hotline that the County has set up with the United Way: 888-856-2774

· Stay home and call your doctor if you have symptoms including but not limited to coughing, shortness of breath, fever, or sore throat.

· If you do not feel better in 24–48 hours, seek care from your doctor.

· Avoid going out in public. Do not go to school or work until you have been fever-free at least 72 hours without  the use of fever-reducing drugs like Tylenol or ibuprofen.

· If you need help getting medical care, call before going to the hospital

· They will provide care regardless of immigration status or ability to pay.

· If you have chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, a compromised immune system, chronic lung disease, and/or cancer, avoid unnecessary gatherings and events. 

Members should seek medical care if they develop symptoms (e.g., fever, cough or shortness of breath) of the COVID-19 virus, especially if they have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19. While sick, avoid contact with people, stay home, and delay any travel to reduce the possibility of spreading illness to others.

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CRAFT SERVICE COALITION

 The Craft Service Coalition is a group of Craft Service Professionals across the US who have come together on FB to give each other insight, have researched info and working on ongoing guidelines to make our job a safer workplace.  Iatse Local 489's own Lela Checco and Maranda Wodzinski are two of the founding members. 

Click here for the Facebook Link

Click here for the Craft Service Coalition Safety Guidelines

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Coronavirus Resource Links for Pennsylvanians:

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Government Coronavirus Resource Links 

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DIRECTIVE FROM PRESIDENT LOEB REGARDING COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

As our temporarily slowed economy has begun to reopen, we must continue to recognize the severity of the COVID-19 crisis and the lethality of this contagion. In recognition of the newly emerging coronavirus cases linked to certain reopened businesses, facilities, and other institutions, we must strive for safety in our workplaces. There is no room for error.  We know now that stringent practices can minimize the risks of outbreaks, which have forced repeated or continued closures in some regions and sectors.  We know first-hand the economic devastation caused by COVID-19.  The IATSE has never experienced a near total shutdown of all of our industries at one time.  Therefore, we must do everything we can to avoid any further closures of our industries.

In accordance with Article Seven, Section 14 of the IATSE International Constitution, I am issuing the following directive:

With regard to members working under IATSE International and/or IATSE local union collective bargaining agreements, members must comply with COVID-19 protocols and guidelines, including mask-wearing; proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE); adherence to hand washing and social distancing; and all other appropriate protective measures aimed at stopping the spread of the disease.

Failing to follow all COVID-19 safety guidelines is conduct unbecoming, amongst other violations, and may subject members to discipline pursuant to Article Sixteen of the IATSE Constitution as well as termination from work by your employer.

The IATSE International does not take these actions lightly.  Recognizing the life-threatening health and economic crises posed by COVID-19 and the singularly unprecedented impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the IATSE International, our members, and our families, we take these extreme, zero tolerance, measures to protect the safety of members and all workers under IATSE and/or IATSE local union collective bargaining agreements.

In solidarity,
Matthew D. Loeb
IATSE International President

 

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PDF icon IATSE Return To Work Agreement 10.23.2022191.72 KB
PDF icon IATSE RTW Agreement 7.19.20212.62 MB