In a spate of successful organizing efforts, the IATSE organized and negotiated contracts for three LA-based talkers and two LA-based low budget films and won the bargaining rights for freelance Sports Broadcast Technicians for the entire state of Arizona, it was announced by President Thomas C. Short.

Talkers include the previously announced Ellen DeGeneres Show as well as the Steve Harvey Show both under the banner of WAD Productions and SoapNet’s Soap Talk.

Low budget features that were successfully organized are ‘When Do We Eat” (When Do We Eat, Inc.) and “Getting Played” (Getting Played, LLC).

In Arizona, the IATSE scored a major victory with Fox Sports Net, winning collective bargaining rights for freelance sports and broadcast technicians who work on any professional and college sports broadcasts. This comes on the heels of a similar deal made for the first time in the state of Texas.

IATSE President Tom Short stated, “These are the types of productions that are a priority for the IA organizers who are working to assure our members receive job protection, including pension and health benefits. Our organizers have also broken ground in their efforts in the states of Arizona and Texas, winning the right to represent workers in those traditionally non-union states.”