PHILADELPHIA, PA — The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) announced the re-election of their International President, Matthew D. Loeb, to the UNI Global Union World Executive Board, Thursday. This decision, made by acclamation, highlights IATSE’s increasingly prevalent role in fostering international solidarity and collaboration amongst Media and Entertainment Industry workers and unions on a global scale. International Vice President and Director of Canadian Affairs, John Lewis, is set to continue his role as the first alternate.

UNI Global Union, is an multinational federation of labor unions representing 20 million workers from over 150 countries across diverse industries, ranging from service workers to tech. UNI Global Union’s 6th World Congress was held in Philadelphia, PA from August 27 to 30. Themed “Rising Together”, the congress brought together leaders from UNI’s affiliate unions to set an actionable agenda for the coming four years, driven by the aim of uplifting workers worldwide.

President Loeb has served as President of UNI Global Union’s Media, Entertainment, and Arts (UNI MEI) sector since 2018. He was also first elected to the UNI Global Union’s World Executive Board that same year. IATSE’s strong presence at the UNI Global Union’s 6th World Congress facilitated relationships with unionists in the sector across the world, which in turn will help our unions build a united front to counter the formidable power held by the largest multinational media and entertainment corporations.

President Loeb said, “Our largest employers are organized internationally, so we must organize internationally as well. Nothing happens in a vacuum, and the standards of entertainment workers internationally directly impacts the economics of our business right here at home. Thus, our presence and leadership within UNI Global Union must continue to serve as a beacon of hope and strength as we fight to ensure entertainment workers can have safe workplaces, are paid fairly, and are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of the country they call home. Together, we rise.”