Thomas N. Sico, a member of State and Theatrical Employees (IATSE) Local 12 in Columbus, Ohio, wrote the following letter to IATSE officers about President Obama’s support for using IATSE members at a Monday campaign rally in Columbus.  IATSE President Matthew Loeb forwarded the letter to us.

I know we are all tired of seeing political ads, but please take a moment to read this before you head to the polls today. Over the last few days political history happened in Columbus Ohio and IATSE Local 12 was at the center of it.

Hotel workers, broadcast technicians, TV and theater employees are just some of the workers who’ve recently joined AFL-CIO unions.

The 705 workers at Levy Restaurants at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., the new home of the Brooklyn Nets, won union recognition with UNITE HERE Local 1 through a majority sign-up agreement in which an employer agrees to recognize the worker’s choice of a union when a majority of workers sign union authorization cards. 

Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and the union's 14 Hollywood locals approved a new three-year contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The 38,000 union members in those locals are camera operators, set decorators, grips and others who work behind the scenes on movies and TV shows. IATSE President Matthew D. Loeb said the Hollywood Basic Agreement,

represents a fair and equitable contract for our members.

While Republican lawmakers and right-wing talking heads try to demonize the union movement, physicians, nurses, flight instructors, technicians, bakers and more are the latest workers to choose a voice on the job with AFL-CIO unions.