IATSE Women’s Committee Mid Winter Update

This report was generated by the International Women’s Committee. If you have questions or would like to be involved in Women’s Committee projects, please reach out to Jessica Westra at nwmwregionalwomen@gmail.com. Please note this address may change soon as the IWC is setting up an Action Network.

 

International Woman’s Committee Mission Statement

The IATSE Women’s Committee provides networking and mentorship opportunities for all women of the IATSE, recognizing that IATSE sisters come in all shapes, colors, and identities, with their own unique stories. We promote education & training, activism & community engagement. We endeavor to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome to celebrate the unlimited potential of IATSE women, to support strength and success in our Union, in our workplaces, our families and in our communities at large. Welcome!

IWC Leadership

• Chair – Colleen Glynn, 6th International Vice-President, Local 11 Business Representative

Executive Committee

• Apple Thorne, 10th International Vice-President, Local 720 Business Representative
• Stasia Savage, Assistant Director of Stagecraft
• Cindy Jennings, International Representative

Introducing New IWC Regional Networking Teams

The goal is to build and connect a powerful network of IATSE Woman!

Updated Sub-Committees

• Activism: focuses on identifying issues that can provide opportunities for women to become fully engaged in their locals and their communities. These may include work and family issues, women’s health initiatives, political activities, and education. May also provide resources for educational opportunities in the larger union community.
• Event Planning: coordinates all logistics, guest speakers, or other activities to take place at the General Executive Board (GEB) Meetings twice a year. May be involved in other networking opportunities that may arise.
• Communication: works to coordinate information across the regions, districts and local unions. Including the quarterly Bulletin articles.

Committees meet both in person and virtually throughout the year.

 

Upcoming Events/Projects

• Coffee Klatch Meetings
• International Women’s Day Social Media Campaign
• IATSE Women’s Committee LinkedIn Learning Path
• Submit your Women’s Committee Pictures
• IWC Sister Spotlight Project
• OLA GEB Charity – Krewe de Pink

Coffee Klatch Meetings

IATSE Canadian sisters have taken to meeting one Sunday a quarter on Zoom to talk about what Sisters are working on, sharing ideas, co-ordinate projects and campaigns. Known as the Coffee Klatch, these informal meetings began as a way for Local committee chairs and district coordinators to get better acquainted but have grown to include interested women without access to a committee at their Local. The IWC will be expanding this idea and launching a US version of the Coffee Klatch Meetings in 2025. These quarterly meetings will offer Committee members and interested women who are unable to travel to the GEB meetings an opportunity to connect, network, discuss issues and share resources.

 

International Women’s Day

Saturday March 8th marks International Women’s Day (IWD). The first time IWD was honored in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland in March 1911. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. Shortly following on March 25, the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Fire in ew York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labor legislation in the United States that became a focus of

subsequent International Women’s Day events.

The intention of International Women’s Day is to:

• Celebrating women’s accomplishments
• Breaking down gender barriers
• Discouraging discrimination
• Promoting women’s rights activism
• Encouraging Allyship

Insert from IATSE 26: Our 1st Vice President Jessica Westra is among the people speaking at the Unite and Resist International Women’s Day rally at Rosa Parks Circle Saturday March 8th from 12pm-3:30pm.

 

This year the International Women’s Day campaign is “Accelerate Action.” According to data from the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of progress, it will take 134 years, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity globally in 2158.

 

Accelerate Action emphasizes the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres. The IATSE Women’s committee is supporting IWD by encouraging everyone to post photos of IATSE members showing the strength of women on social media on March 8 with the hashtags #AccelerateAction and #iatseWomenUp

 

IATSE Women’s Committee LinkedIn Learning Path:

The IWC has teamed up with the IATSE TTF to put together a suite of classes is designed to address the unique challenges of Women’s leadership and workplace integration. There are sixteen courses will help learners develop skills in Women’s Empowerment, Women’s leadership Development, Gender inclusivity and Allyship.

 

 

Women Supporting Women

• Strategies for Female Empowerment
• Fighting Gender Bias in the Workplace
• Building a ew Leadership Ladder: Support Women on the Rise
• Advancing Women of Color: Go from the First and Few to Many
• Menopause in the Workplace: A Guide to Supporting Your Colleagues

Women in Leadership

• Leadership Strategies for Women
• Using Gender Inclusive Language
• Inclusive Female Leadership
• Getting a Seat at the Table and Making It Count

Navigating the Workplace

• The Four Phases of Women’s Careers
• Creating Your Dream Career: A Transformative Guide for Women
• Career Strategies for Women Re-Entering the Workforce
• Own It: The Power of Women at Work

Nano Tips

These are groups of one-minute videos that address topics impacting women in the workplace.

• Identifying and Overcoming Unconscious Bias in the Workplace
• Topics include the:
• Double Bind

• Concrete Ceiling
• Punishment Gap
• Creating Equitable Workplaces for Working Mothers
• Topics include the:
• Motherhood Penalty
• Burnout

Additional Resources

• Skills for Advancing as a Woman in Leadership Learning Path
• In this learning path, you will build foundational skills to advance as a woman in leadership. Learn how to use gender-inclusive language, develop leadership presence, persuade others, negotiate effectively, lead boldly and with confidence, and lift others up as you rise.
• Power Her in Unity for Women’s History Month Learning Path
• These six courses will inspire you to action and help you harness the collective strength and unity of women across generations, identities, and geographies.

IWC Sister Spotlight Project:

The sister spotlight project continues, highlighting remarkable IATSE women profiled in the IATSE Bulletin each quarter. The IWC encourages members to identify the amazing women in your local and nominate them for a Sister spotlight at https://iatse.net/take-action/women/sister-spotlight-form/or use the QR code:

INTERNATIONAL WOMANS COMMITTEE

NOLA 1.29.2025

 

 

NOLA GEB Charity Krewe de Pink

The IWC supported Krew De Pink at the mid-winter GEB. Everyone has been touched by someone who has battled breast cancer, many have won the fight and unfortunately some have not. Krewe de Pink is an all-volunteer organization that raises money for breast cancer research and donates it to Tulane Cancer Center. They formed in 2011, partnered with the researchers at Tulane to help them find innovative research ideas. The funds donated by Krewe de Pink are unrestricted so they can try innovative ideas then get the big grant money to dive deeper. Please consider a donation.