International Secretariat of Entertainment Trade Unions

The International Secretariat of Entertainment Trade Unions (ISETU) was a global union federation bringing together trade unions representing workers in the arts, media and entertainment industries.

History

The secretariat was established in 1965, on the initiative of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. It absorbed the International Congress of Broadcasting Unions, and adopted two existing bodies, the European Union of Film and Television Workers, and the Inter-American Federation of Entertainment Workers, as regional bodies.[1]

The first general secretary, Alan Forrest, believed that the funding for the new organisation came from the American government, and was intended to provide a less radical alternative to the International Federation of Actors (FIA) and International Federation of Musicians (FIM). These allegations were never proven, but influenced the perception of the organisation among many trade unionists, and it did not attract affiliations from any unions which held membership of the FIA or FIM.[2][3]

ISETU was initially based in Brussels, but later moved its headquarters to London, and then on to Vienna, and finally Geneva. In 1984, it affiliated to the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical, Professional and Technical Employees (FIET) and became known as the International Secretariat for Arts, Mass Media and Entertainment Trade Unions (ISETU-FIET), but retained a high level of autonomy.[2]

At the start of 1992, the federation left FIET, and instead established the International Committee of Entertainment and Media Unions with the FIA, FIM, International Federation of Audio Visual Workers (FISTAV) and the International Federation of Journalists, the International Graphical Federation soon also joining. Relationships with FISTAV were particularly strong, and in 1993, the two secretariats merged, forming what became known as the Media and Entertainment International.[2]

Affiliates

In 1979, the following unions were affiliated to the federation:[1]

UnionCountry
Sociedad Argentina de LocutoresArgentina
Syndicato Unico Trabajadores Espectaculo Publico de la Republic ArgentinaArgentina
Australian Theatrical and Amusement Workers' AssociationAustralia
Australian Broadcasting Commission Staff AssociationAustralia
Professional Musicians' Union of AustraliaAustralia
Union of Artists, Media Workers and Freelance WorkersAustria
Bahamas Musicians' and Entertainers' UnionBahamas
Comité National des Travailleurs du Film et de la TélévisionBelgium
Centrale Générale des Services PublicsBelgium
Federacion Sindical de Trabajadores en Radiodifusion de BoliviaBolivia
Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la RadioColombia
Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation Staff SocietyCyprus
Sindicato General de Trabajadores de Radio y Televisión de la Provincia del GuyayasEcuador
Syndicat Français du Cinéma de la Radio et la TélévisionFrance
Fédération Syndicaliste des SpectaclesFrance
Fédération Nationale de l'Education SpectaclesFrance
Gewerkschaft öffentliche DienstWest Germany
Rundfund - Fernseh - Film - UnionWest Germany
Internationale ArtistenlogeWest Germany
Genossenschaft Deutscher BuehnenangehoerigerWest Germany
Association of Broadcasting StaffUnited Kingdom
National Association of Theatrical, Television and Ciné EmployeesUnited Kingdom
Indian Motion Picture Employees' UnionIndia
Irish Transport and General Workers' UnionIreland
National Union of Ciné and Television TechniciansIsrael
Federazione Unitaria Lavoratori della SpettacoloItaly
Unione Nazionale Autori e CinetecniciItaly
Unione Italiana Lavoratori dello SpettacoloItaly
NichionroJapan
Musicians' Labour UnionJapan
Kenya National Union of MusiciansKenya
Mauritius National Labour Film Institute Acting BoardMauritius
Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Radiofusion TelevisionMexico
Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria CinematorgraficaMexico
Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Musica de la Republic MexicanaMexico
Algemene Nederlandse Organisatie van Uitvoevende KunstenaarsNetherlands
Algemene Bond MercuriusNetherlands
New Zealand Musicians' UnionNew Zealand
Association of Nigerian MusiciansNigeria
Association of Radio and TV Journalists of NigeriaNigeria
Associación de Locutores y Operadores de Radio y Televisión del ParaguayParaguay
Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores Especializados de la Industria de Radio y Television del PeruPeru
Sociedad Peruana de ActoresPeru
Philippine Musicians' GuildPhilippines
Musicians' Union of SingaporeSingapore
Svenska IndustritjanstemannaforbundetSweden
Association des Employés de la Télévision SuisseSwitzerland
Screen Actors' GuildUnited States
American Federation of Television and Radio ArtistsUnited States
American Guild of Musical ArtistsUnited States
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine OperatorsUnited States
International Brotherhood of Electrical WorkersUnited States
American Federation of MusiciansUnited States
Associacion Musical del Distrito Federal y Estado MirandaVenezuela

Leadership

General Secretaries
1965: Alan Forrest
1972: Post vacant
1984: Irene Robadey
1991: Jim Wilson

Presidents
1965: Leslie Littlewood
1971: Robin Richardson
1976: Josef Schweinzer
1984: Walter Bacher

References
  1. Coldrick, Percy; Jones, Philip (1979). The International Directory of the Trade Union Movement. New York: Facts on File. pp. 54–55. ISBN 0871963744.
  2. Fattmann, Rainer (2002). The Long Road Towards Cooperation (PDF). Bonn: Hans Böckler Foundation. ISBN 3-89892-047-X. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  3. Windmuller, John (1991). International Trade Secretariats. Bureau of International Labor Affairs. p. 31.
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