IATSE: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, its territories and Canada (established 1893)

IATSE is a Labour Union made up of more than 100,000 specialty artists, technicians and freelance craft workers across North America.

IATSE Local 856 represents freelance specialty Artists, Technicians and Crafts workers in the Manitoba Motion Picture industry. Many of our members have been working in the Manitoba film industry for fifteen or more years.

Our mission is to represent the skilled workforce in the Manitoba film industry for the purposes of:

• Advancing the economic, social and cultural interests of our Membership.
• Engaging in such other activities as may be necessary or proper to strengthen the labour movement.
• Promoting and supporting democracy and trade unionism.
• Improving wages and hours of work, increasing job security and improving working conditions.

During the past 7 years of unprecedented levels of film-making in Manitoba, we have seen growth in our membership numbers and earnings, growth in our casual workforce, and increased development of specialty skills amongst our membership. We are committed to building a highly skilled workforce in Manitoba, and marketing these Manitoba-based skills throughout the world.

Local 856 represents the following Departments:

• Animal Wrangling
• Art
• Catering
• Construction
• Continuity (Script)
• Costume
• Extras Casting
• First Aid & Craft Services (FACS)
• Greens
• Grips
• Hairstylists
• Lighting & Electrics
• Makeup Artists
• Paint
• Props
• Security
• Set Decorating
• Sound
• Special Effects
• Transportation