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

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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

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

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

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General Secretaries

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

Presidents

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

References

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  1. ^ a b Coldrick, Percy; Jones, Philip (1979). The International Directory of the Trade Union Movement. New York: Facts on File. pp. 54–55. ISBN 0871963744.
  2. ^ a b c 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.