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.
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.
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.
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.
Affiliates In 1979, the following unions were affiliated to the federation:
Union Country Sociedad Argentina de Locutores Argentina Syndicato Unico Trabajadores Espectaculo Publico de la Republic Argentina Argentina Australian Theatrical and Amusement Workers' Association Australia Australian Broadcasting Commission Staff Association Australia Professional Musicians' Union of Australia Australia Union of Artists, Media Workers and Freelance Workers Austria Bahamas Musicians' and Entertainers' Union Bahamas Comité National des Travailleurs du Film et de la Télévision Belgium Centrale Générale des Services Publics Belgium Federacion Sindical de Trabajadores en Radiodifusion de Bolivia Bolivia Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Radio Colombia Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation Staff Society Cyprus Sindicato General de Trabajadores de Radio y Televisión de la Provincia del Guyayas Ecuador Syndicat Français du Cinéma de la Radio et la Télévision France Fédération Syndicaliste des Spectacles France Fédération Nationale de l'Education Spectacles France Gewerkschaft öffentliche Dienst West Germany Rundfund - Fernseh - Film - Union West Germany Internationale Artistenloge West Germany Genossenschaft Deutscher Buehnenangehoeriger West Germany Association of Broadcasting Staff United Kingdom National Association of Theatrical, Television and Ciné Employees United Kingdom Indian Motion Picture Employees' Union India Irish Transport and General Workers' Union Ireland National Union of Ciné and Television Technicians Israel Federazione Unitaria Lavoratori della Spettacolo Italy Unione Nazionale Autori e Cinetecnici Italy Unione Italiana Lavoratori dello Spettacolo Italy Nichionro Japan Musicians' Labour Union Japan Kenya National Union of Musicians Kenya Mauritius National Labour Film Institute Acting Board Mauritius Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Radiofusion Television Mexico Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria Cinematorgrafica Mexico Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Musica de la Republic Mexicana Mexico Algemene Nederlandse Organisatie van Uitvoevende Kunstenaars Netherlands Algemene Bond Mercurius Netherlands New Zealand Musicians' Union New Zealand Association of Nigerian Musicians Nigeria Association of Radio and TV Journalists of Nigeria Nigeria Associación de Locutores y Operadores de Radio y Televisión del Paraguay Paraguay Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores Especializados de la Industria de Radio y Television del Peru Peru Sociedad Peruana de Actores Peru Philippine Musicians' Guild Philippines Musicians' Union of Singapore Singapore Svenska Industritjanstemannaforbundet Sweden Association des Employés de la Télévision Suisse Switzerland Screen Actors' Guild United States American Federation of Television and Radio Artists United States American Guild of Musical Artists United States International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators United States International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers United States American Federation of Musicians United States Associacion Musical del Distrito Federal y Estado Miranda Venezuela
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