Governing Body
The Supreme governing body of the I.A.T.S.E. is its convention, an assembly of delegates from all the locals and from the various departments. Here, every four years, the progress of the organization is reviewed; its policies are affirmed or altered; plans for the future are formulated; and its laws are kept up to date. And here are elected the officers who will serve for the next four years.
Executive Board
Between conventions, the I.A. government is entrusted to its General Executive Board-consisting of the International President, General Secretary-Treasurer and thirteen Vice Presidents, at least one of whom must be from Canada. The Board meets at least twice each year.
International President
Day-to-day administration of I.A.T.S.E. affairs is in the hands of the International President, whose staff includes two Assistant's to the President and a corps of International Representatives working throughout the United States and Canada.
Appeals
Under the democratic laws of the I.A., any action taken on the local level may be appealed to the President. His decision may be appealed to the General Executive Board. And its decision may be appealed to the International Convention.
Finances
Keeping watch over the finances of the organization is a board of three International Trustees who are elected at the International Convention. These Trustees conduct semi-annual audits.
Contracts
While most contracts are negotiated locally or by region, the General Office signs nation-wide agreements in cases where they are warranted by the nature of the work involved. Such agreements are in effect covering road persons with travelling attractions, sound service engineers who cover regional areas to look after projection booth equipment, film exchange employees, handlers of projection and video equipment, used on airlines and a number of specialized TV functions including live shows that move from station to station, closed-circuitry reception and projections, rental Teleprompter service and the making and taking of pictures by the networks.
Official Bulletin
The I.A.T.S.E. publishes a quarterly magazine, the Official Bulletin, which helps draw together the members of its far-flung organization and keeps them abreast of the latest developments.
Conventions
Particular problems to the various areas of the United States and Canada are examined at periodic gatherings of fourteen district groups. These District's hold annual conventions and at four-year intervals an international convention is immediately preceded by conventions of the districts.
Exhibit
The I.A. has designed an exhibit which is displayed each year at the Union Industries Show under the auspices of the AFL-CIO Union Label and Service Trades Department. This exhibit allows the general public, as well as other International and National unions, to view the skills and outstanding achievements of our members in the work they perform.
Educational Seminars
In addition, the I.A.T.S.E. conducts "Educational Seminars" which have been very successful in helping our local unions throughout the United States and Canada to keep informed of the various labour laws and legal matters that could affect them.