Most employers are reasonably wary about the so-called “big” unions: UAW, Teamsters, CWA, IAM, SEIU, and so on. In a time of low private sector union density, these unions are poaching across industries to pump up their numbers. The effects are measurable with the Teamsters pushing into healthcare, the UAW organizing museum and higher ed workers, CWA going for ski patrollers, and the Machinists unionizing pharmacists.
Meanwhile with sector-specific unions, there’s no danger of, say, National Nurses United targeting manufacturing workers. One can make the same assumption about the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), which is a niche “Hollywood” union but offers a useful case study in how unions grow. It’s true that IATSE isn’t coming for hospitals or warehouse workers. What it has built, and how it built it, is a different story.
A Larger Union Than You Think
According to IATSE’s most recently filed LM-2, this union represents at least 172,000 workers in the TV and motion picture trades as well as concerts and live theater productions. The union’s infrastructure spans 340 locals scattered across the U.S. and Canada.
This reach is wider than many employers realize. IATSE’s Tradeshow and Display Department covers the installation and dismantling of conventions, exhibitions, and corporate meetings through agreements with national employers. The union follows technical and production work wherever it goes, so you’ll find IATSE’s members in convention centers, arenas, and hotel ballrooms. Employers in live events, AV, and production who aren’t unionized should understand that IATSE has the presence to get there.
Beyond IATSE’s industry reach, however, its recent activity, combined with the coalition model that follows, paints a broader picture.
Recent Moves Worth Watching
2026 wins: IATSE has unionized technicians, engineers, carpenters, ticket sellers, and sports promoters at venues including San Diego Musical Theater; Fontainebleau Hotel & Casino in Vegas; Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City; and Crossroads Presents in Alliston, MA. Ditto for the Los Angeles Dodgers, ESPN, and more.
A “high-visibility” get: IATSE unionized crew members of Beast Games, a streaming competition from Prime Video show. The show’s host, Mr. Beast, has 484 million YouTube subscribers, and we can expect IATSE to continue targeting YouTube stars with viral presence to further increase its reach.
Extending and defending: IATSE already represents workers of CoComelon, the animated Netflix series. When Moonbug Entertainment declined to recognize card check on the LA set of CoComelon: The Melon Patch, the union filed ULP charges and put workers on strike. Elsewhere, IATSE filed a ULP charge against Kennedy Center alleging unlawful discharge after layoffs ahead of a planned temporary closure.
The Coalition Model
In 2021, IATSE members authorized a strike by 98.7%. What followed was four years of increasingly coordinated action across entertainment unions. WGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, and the Teamsters built a solidarity coalition that showed up at each other’s picket lines in 2023, during a 148-day WGA strike and a 118-day counterpart for SAG-AFTRA. During contract negotiations, this coalition has been using pattern bargaining, and “wins” by one union become the baseline for those that follow.
Each contract raises the floor for the next negotiation, and whether that method is sustainable for the industry isn’t relevant here. What matters is that other unions are watching, and they love to copycat each other.
What This Means Outside Of Hollywood
IATSE is a niche union, but it doesn’t operate like one. Further, the union’s most recent LM-2 filing shows $103.8 million in total assets and zero debt. That’s enough to sustain a lengthy campaign or a high-profile dispute, which leads to our final point.
Employers who wait until a union is at the door to ask these questions will be too late. The time to pay attention is before the petition, not after.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does pattern bargaining affect employers who aren’t at the table?
Pattern bargaining sets a market rate that extends beyond the union that negotiated it. When IATSE secures a contract provision on wages or working conditions, that term becomes the baseline expectation in the next round of negotiations across the coalition. This can go further, too, because both organized and non-organized workers in similar roles can point to the pattern as the new floor.
What should employers in live events, AV, or production know about IATSE’s organizing process?
IATSE organizes by craft and geography, meaning it targets specific job classifications rather than entire workforces. If your operation includes the above roles, IATSE likely has a local union nearby with organizers who are ready. It’s key to understand that exposure before card check happens.
How do I use an LM-2 filing to assess a union’s organizing capacity?
The LM-2 is a union’s annual financial disclosure filed with the Department of Labor. Frequently spanning 150+ pages, LM-2s lists total assets, debt, and spending on representational activities, including organizing and collective bargaining expenses. A union with strong reserves, relative to its size, can execute a long campaign.
