My IATSE & Encore History
In 2003, in Las Vegas, we organized PS-AV, now Encore with the IATSE 720 union. However, after we signed blue cards and over 90% voted yes (only 1 of 17 voted no), 720 turned their back on us. Despite promises, they secured an aboveboard contract and pledged never to unionize their employees, leaving us in the dust.
Fast forward to today, Encore has over ten times the number of employees, many of whom are prior union workers forced to accept jobs to keep their positions after 20 years. The current contract includes satellite language protecting Encore from unionization and they employed scare tactics to thwart unionizing attempts a few years ago, with no resistance from 720.
Moreover, we find it perplexing that we are a union with no strike clause. Is it time for the international to step in?, maybe not, as they have seemingly controlled our staff for over a decade and let this all happen.
Why would Vegas, the largest local in the U.S., terminate five organizers to hire a lobbyist who only secures political government positions for our puppet leaders while turning away from unionizing attempts? We saw and shared that email from the international to Dan'l.
We need to reclaim our local and are seeking referrals for attorneys to represent hundreds if not thousands of workers.
I posted this on my prominent socials in hopes to garner support, any positive advice is welcome in a comment below, thank you.
