Membership with Local 918
If you want to join Local 918, you must have been a resident of the State of Alaska for a minimum of eighteen months, and be of legal working age.
Stage technicians should have worked 60 hours of union stage calls before submitting an application. Film technicians should show that they have done an equivalent amount of work in the film industry.
We have an agreement with all of our Employers, that if you have worked through Local 918 with any and/or all of our contracted Employers for a total of one thousand (1000) hours you must either make application for membership to Local 918, or pay the Union initiation fees and subsequent Union dues thereafter. This type of agreement is called an Agency Shop Clause.
If you would like an application you can request one through our Business Agent or send an email to stagehanddispatch@live.com.
Financial Information
If you are not a current member, you can register as an Extra to be eligible for dispatching. Extra registration fees are $22.00 a month.
Extras will be registered starting the 15th of the preceding month. They will be placed on the appropriate list in accordance to hours worked and order of registration, but always below the members on that list.
For stage production work, six percent (6%) of your gross wages will be removed from your gross wages. This percentage is called working dues and is forwarded to the Union to assist in offsetting the operating costs of the Local.
Each of our employers is required by contract to make a contribution to an IRS approved retirement plan for Local 918 members. The amount of the contribution is calculated as a percentage of your gross wages and varies based on the contract.
Dispatch Proceedures
Local 918 has a weekly Eblast that goes out on Tuesday evenings for upcoming work and other business related to the Union. This includes classes, office hours, dispatcher and other items of interest. In order to be considered for dispatch, you must reply via email, text message, ia918.callsteward.com or phone call by 7pm on Wednesday. When you register, you are put on one of two lists. One list is the hiring hall list in accordance with the amount of hours you have with 918. The other list is an extras list in accordance with the order of registration. These two lists, plus any qualifications, will determine your placement in the hiring hall rotation and the work offered to you.
When you are sent an email or contacted by the Dispatcher, you will be given the date(s) of work, time, place, employer name and position. When you report to work you need to check in with the call steward. All crew information is posted on the call board at the loading dock at ACPA. BE ON TIME! That means if your call is at 8am, that is the time you must be ready to start work, not your arrival time! If you are more than 5 minutes late, you may be replaced, fined, or given a reduction in your rate of pay.
Rate of Pay & Timesheets
Since each of our contracts are individually negotiated the rates of pay vary. Our base rate is the grip rate. You are considered a grip until you can show that you have performed duties according to a checklist for each position and are eligible to be qualified in that department. Once you are qualified in a department, your pay will go up to department rate. Additional qualifications are required for key and lead positions.
Department Positions = Wardrobe, Prop, Fly, Carp, Audio, Electric
Key Positions = Stitcher, FSO, Light & Audio Board, Fly
Lead Positions = Wardrobe, Prop, Fly, Carp, Audio, Electric, Wig
Overtime occurs when you work more than 8 hours a day, or 40 hours in a week. Meal penalty applies when you work more than 5 hours without being fed a hot meal.
Attire & Behavior
We ask that you think logically about your attire when you come to work. For example, sandals are not appropriate footwear for unloading a truck. You need to dress so that you will not be putting yourself at risk of injury. Bare midriffs or blouses with narrow straps are not appropriate.
Good personal hygiene is required.
Drunkenness, drug use or dishonesty will not be tolerated. Any violations of these policies will be considered grounds for immediate dismissal and a fine.
If you are working on a performance crew you will be asked to wear what are called “stage blacks” (black pants, black shirt, and black shoes or sneakers). Every crew member is required to wear blacks. NO EXCEPTIONS! This is required by our contract agreement with our employers. The touring company may have other rules, but you must follow our contract agreement. You may be asked to wear a costume if you will be seen by the audience during a scene shift. There is no additional compensation if you are required to wear a costume.
Please be considerate of those around you. Avoid foul language, and comments with sexual connotations.
Please turn off pagers, cell phones, and anything else that lights up, makes noise or is distracting when at work. You can answer your messages on your paid break.
Non-Discrimination
Our employers provide equal opportunity employment. We do have qualifications that we ask members and extras to meet so that we are confident that we are providing the best labor for our employers. You will be dispatched without regard to your race, color, sex, national origin, religion, marital status, age or disability, as long as you have met the requirements as stated in the qualifications.
IATSE Local 918 believes in creating a working style that is free of all forms of unlawful discrimination. We will not tolerate any form of harassment or on the job discrimination.
If you feel you have been or are being harassed by another member of the crew or staff please notify your lead immediately. We also ask that the Steward be made aware of the issue so a report can be completed. If you feel you may not be comfortable talking to the Steward, talk to your lead or contact an executive board member.
Tools & Safety
Below is a short list of recommended tools for each departmental position.
GRIP
- Gloves
- Adjustable wrench
CARPENTER
- Gloves
- Adjustable wrench
- Hammer
- Tape Measure
- Flashlight
- Screwdriver
- Knife
ELECTRICIAN
- Gloves
- Adjustable wrench
- Screwdriver
- Flashlight
- Knife
FLY
- Gloves
- Water bottle (if a loader)
WARDROBE
- Black apron
- Flashlight
- Safety pins
- Needle
- Thread
- Scissors
PROP
- Gloves
- Flashlight
- Adjustable wrench
- Knife
- Screwdrivers
AUDIO
- Gloves
- Flashlight
- Screwdrivers
IATSE Local 918 and its employers are very concerned with safety. If you feel that you are being asked to use an unsafe piece of equipment, or to perform a job in a way you feel is unsafe, you may freely refuse to do the job. If this issue arises take the time to discuss it with your lead. We would also appreciate it if you would mention the issue to your call Steward so a report can be written on the issue.
If you are being asked to do a job that requires additional safety gear (ie respirators, etc) please fee free to ask your lead to contact the appropriate employer representative to supply the proper piece of equipment. If your lead refuses to contact the representative, please go to the call Steward and ask them to contact the employer representative, and to also write a report on the incident. If you are being asked to work with someone that you feel is compromising your safety please mention this to your lead so the issue can be addressed.
Minimum Work Expectations
- Arrive on Time
- Check in with your Steward
- Dress according to work expectations
- Have all tools necessary for your dispatched position
- Do what your lead asks you to do
- Stay where you are assigned to work until an official break is called
- Take care of personal business during your official break
- Work as instructed until your lead dismisses you
- Sign out with your Steward
Tardiness & No Show Bylaws
Section 9: LATE FINES
Fines for late arrival or a no-show for work are as follows:
All employees late five (5) minutes may be fined $10.00 for each offense. If an employee is more than 10 minutes late they may be fined in the following manner:
1st Offense: Fine of $15.00
2nd Offense: If within a ninety day period of your most recent offense: Fine of $25.00 and a written warning.
3rd Offense: If within the ninety day period of your most recent offense: Fine of $50.00 and will make you ineligible for dispatch for a period of one month.
No-Show: Fine of $50.00
Anyone later than 5 minutes may be docked 15 minutes and their rate of pay will drop one level for a minimum call of 3 or 4 hours depending on what the show call minimum is.
Reasons You Could Be Removed From a Call
- Tardiness/No Show
- Drinking or drug use prior/during a call
- Not doing what your lead has instructed you to do
- Vulgar or inappropriate language
- Engaging in unsafe work habits
If you have any questions contact the dispatcher, the business agent or your friendly Secretary/Treasurer.
