IATSE is endorsing Kamala Harris for president of the United States.
The union, which represents more than 170,000 technicians, artisans and craftspersons in Hollywood and across the entertainment industry, said it voted unanimously to endorse Harris, following President Biden’s decision not to seek reelection and his subsequent endorsement of the current vice president. IATSE is the first Hollywood entertainment union to endorse Harris, and the decision comes after the union ratified its new contract with the studios last week.
IATSE says it’s backing Harris as the Biden-Harris White House “has been the most pro-union administration in history,” with Harris playing a “pivotal role” in those actions.
Among Harris’ attributes, IATSE said Harris, as vice president, cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate to pass the American Rescue Plan Act, which provided IATSE members and others pandemic relief. Harris was also chair of the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment and asked IATSE for input on executive actions to increase organizing and greater empowerment in the industry.
“President Biden’s legacy as the most effective champion for America’s workers to ever occupy the White House is indisputable,” said IATSE International president Matthew D. Loeb. “His unrelenting support of IATSE workers and the labor movement cannot be overstated. I’m proud to convey the immense gratitude of the IATSE membership for his lifetime of public service and unparalleled leadership. We honor his decision not to run for reelection and are committed to doing whatever it takes to elect Vice President Kamala Harris this November. We are united in our mission to deny Donald Trump, who crossed an IATSE picket line in 2004, another four years of assaulting workers’ rights, undermining unions, and jeopardizing our democracy.”