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| Local 103 (IATSE) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Local 103 (IATSE) |
| Location country | United States |
| Affiliation | International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees |
| Founded | 1900s |
| Members | ~1000 |
| Headquarters | New York City |
| Key people | Presidents, Business Agents |
Local 103 (IATSE) is a labor union local affiliated with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees representing stagehands, technicians, and production personnel in venues and productions centered in New York City, with connections to Broadway, touring productions, and unionized film work. The local negotiates collective bargaining agreements with theater owners, production companies, and venue operators, and participates in training programs and industry-wide discussions alongside other locals and national bodies like the AFL–CIO and the Actors' Equity Association. Its membership interacts with landmark institutions such as Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, and Broadway theaters associated with the League of American Theatres and Producers.
Local 103 emerged amid the early 20th-century labor movement that saw the formation of trade-specific organizations like the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and contemporaneous unions such as the American Federation of Labor and later the AFL–CIO. Its development paralleled major cultural shifts centered on venues like Carnegie Hall, touring circuits tied to producers like David Belasco and companies associated with The Shubert Organization, and later the rise of studio filmmaking linked to entities such as Paramount Pictures and RKO Radio Pictures. The local responded to landmark events including the Great Depression, wartime production changes during World War II, and industry disruptions tied to the rise of television broadcasters like NBC and CBS. Historic contracts and disputes involved counterparts including the League of American Theatres and Producers, municipal authorities in New York City, and national bargaining themes driven by leaders from the United Scenic Artists and the Teamsters.
The local's governance mirrors structures found in other IATSE locals, with elected officers—president, business agent, secretary-treasurer—and committees that coordinate with the international office of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Membership categories include journeymen, apprentices, and retirees, and the local coordinates with trade-specific organizations like United Scenic Artists, the Dramatists Guild of America, and Local 1 IATSE on jurisdictional questions. Members often work on productions by companies such as Nederlander Organization, Jujamcyn Theaters, and touring entities connected to promoters like Live Nation and AEG Presents.
Local jurisdiction covers rigging, electrics, stage carpentry, and stage management functions within venues ranging from Broadway houses to arenas like Madison Square Garden and performing arts centers like Lincoln Center; it also asserts jurisdiction over certain film and television production work at studios including Silvercup Studios and facilities used by networks such as WNET. Activities include negotiating work rules with producers represented by the League of American Theatres and Producers, enforcing safety protocols aligned with standards advocated by occupational groups connected to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and industry safety committees formed with United Scenic Artists and IATSE National leadership. The local interfaces with touring operations of productions associated with producers such as Cirque du Soleil and Broadway-bound shows like Hamilton (musical).
Local negotiations have involved collective bargaining with employers ranging from theater owners like the Shubert Organization to production companies and broadcast networks such as NBC and CBS. Labor actions historically mirrored larger IATSE strategies and have intersected with high-profile disputes involving the Screen Actors Guild and the Directors Guild of America over jurisdictional and safety issues. The local has engaged in strikes, work stoppages, and targeted picketing in coordination with other unions including Actors' Equity Association and the Teamsters during contract impasses, and has participated in solidarity campaigns during national negotiations led by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees international leadership.
Training initiatives include apprenticeship programs and safety training coordinated with the IATSE international office and allied training centers such as the IATSE Training Trust and educational partnerships with institutions like New York University and The Juilliard School for skills development. The local supports certifications in stage rigging, pyrotechnics oversight for productions like those by Cirque du Soleil, and venue-specific safety protocols used at locations such as Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden. Collaborative programs have also connected members with technical curricula at trade-focused schools and workforce development initiatives administered in partnership with municipal agencies in New York City.
Leaders and prominent members have interacted with influential producers and creative figures including David Belasco, Florenz Ziegfeld, and modern producers tied to Cameron Mackintosh and Scott Rudin; elected officers have engaged with labor figures in the broader labor movement like leaders of the AFL–CIO and renowned union negotiators affiliated with IATSE. Members have worked on signature productions including Phantom of the Opera (musical), Les Misérables, and recent Broadway hits such as Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton (musical), collaborating with designers and directors connected to the Tony Awards, the Drama Desk Awards, and institutions like the American Theatre Wing.
The local contributes to cultural infrastructure preservation projects in collaboration with venue stakeholders including the Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, participates in workforce development initiatives alongside municipal programs in New York City, and supports disaster relief efforts coordinated with organizations such as the Red Cross during emergencies impacting performing arts communities. Its collective bargaining outcomes influence employment standards across the theatrical and live-entertainment sectors involving producers like Live Nation and AEG Presents, and its training programs shape technical labor pipelines feeding theaters operated by the Nederlander Organization, Shubert Organization, and Jujamcyn Theaters.
Category:Trade unions in New York City Category:International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees