FAQ

1. What is the purpose of the Census?

This is a first-ever, union-wide effort to understand important information about the union’s overall membership and to count every member.

The purpose is to better understand:

• Who makes up your membership
• Identify the union’s future needs
• Determine how best to use the union’s resources
• To ensure that you, as an IATSE member, are counted

2. Who will be part of the Census and what are the eligibility requirements for participation in this census?  Who is not eligible?

Who is eligible:  All current and active IATSE members.

Who is not eligible:  People who are on Honorable Withdrawal, people who have not yet been sworn in (permit workers, overhires), and anyone who has been expelled are not permitted to take the Census at this time.

3. Who is conducting the Census?

Our team of researchers at The Worker Institute at Cornell University's School of Industrial Labor Relations (ILR), are responsible for the development of the Census questions, distribution of the Census electronically to all eligible IATSE members, with a confidential link for each member, and analysis of the Census data.

4. Why should you participate in the Census? 

Without your participation, we cannot have a fully accurate count of the entire IATSE membership.  Your participation is important because it gives the IATSE International and your Local accurate membership data that can help inform planning, decision-making, organizing, bargaining and other union initiatives.  

Please know, your information is kept completely confidential and anonymous.  Those at the IATSE International and your Local will never have access to your individual answers.

5. Who is sponsoring the Census?

The IATSE International is sponsoring the member Census in order to directly fulfill a resolution approved by the delegates of the 69th Quadrennial Convention, held in 2021. While the union is paying for the Census, its operations will be carried out by the Worker Institute at Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) as a neutral and academic third party.

6. Will the results be shared with the study population?  If so, how?  Who gets access to the data?  Who is analyzing the data? 

Your participation in the Census is strictly confidential. We, at the Worker Institute at Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR), will process census responses using our secure and proven software. Your information is encrypted and analyzed by us. IATSE will never receive individual results. We, the researchers at the Worker Institute, will prepare and share a summary report of the findings with IATSE International leadership that will be subsequently shared with the Locals.

7. Who to contact if you have questions or concerns.

Contact Anne Marie Brady, Senior Extension Associate, Research Director, Worker Rights and Equity, The Worker Institute, Cornell University