International President Thomas C. Short was elected as a Vice President of the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO at the AFL-CIO Convention held in Chicago, IL from July 25 – 27, 2005. The AFL-CIO Executive Council meets at least twice a year to consider important union movement business and policies. The 43 member council, whose term run four years, regularly issues statements on legislative measures affecting the interests of working families, ongoing struggles for justice for workers and more. International President Short’s election marks the return of the IATSE to the AFL-CIO Executive Council after a 31-year absence, which began when the late Richard Walsh retired from the Council in 1974
“The IATSE is now in a position to make a significant contribution to the AFL-CIO specifically, and the labor movement as a whole, with this position on the Council,” International President Short stated. “We, in the labor movement, are facing some of the greatest challenges in our history and it is critical for us to take a strong, aggressive and united stand if we are to survive.”
International President Short grew up in a union household in Cleveland, OH. He has been a union member since January 9, 1968, when he was initiated into IATSE Stagehands Local No. 27. He is also a Charter Member of Special Department Local No. B-27, founded in 1977, as well as having served as its Business Agent. Mr. Short was elected to serve on the Executive Boards of Local 27 and Studio Mechanics Local 209 of the State of Ohio, in 1971, and in 1978 was elected to serve as Local 27’s President.
On December 16, 1994 Mr. Short was elected to the position of International President, due to the vacancy created by the resignation of the late President Alfred W. Di Tolla. Mr. Short was re-elected to his first full three-year term as International President at the 62nd Convention of the International Alliance held in Miami Beach, Florida. Mr. Short continues to serve as International President, having been unanimously re-elected by the delegates to the International’s 65th Convention held in Honolulu, HI in 2005.
Under his leadership, the Union and his aggressive administration has brought about tremendous growth in the membership of the IATSE with an increase from 65,000 to over 105,000, and over 1100 national term agreements with industry employers.
He is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plans and the Motion Picture & Television Fund, as well as a Trustee of the IATSE National Benefit Funds, and a member of the Board of Directors of The Actor’s Fund.
He has been the recipient of numerous awards including the DGA Honors Award recognizing his distinguished contribution to American culture; the “Lew Wasserman Spirit of Democracy Award” presented by the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor; the “Heart to Heart Award” presented by Encore Community Services and the Actors Fund Medal of Honor presented by the Actors Fund.
