Bid fails to remove IATSE blacklist rules
'Relic of the Blacklist era' continues as wording is disputed
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A resolution to remove the language from Article One was defeated over the weekend within the resolutions committee of IATSE's District 2 delegation following disagreements over the wording of the resolution.
"I am very surprised and very disappointed," said cinematographer Haskell Wexler, a VP with Local 600 of the Intl. Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. "When I heard that the measure was being introduced, my reaction was 'It's about time.' "
The resolution, authored by Michael Everett of Local 728, said that the IA's adherence to the blacklist clauses in its constitution and those of locals represents a "relic of the Blacklist era and have long since been declared null and void by the U.S. Supreme Court."
The resolution noted that other guilds have acknowledged their use of the blacklist and apologized and called on the IA to take the same steps.
Wexler, who was blacklisted between 1950 and 1958, said he is still bitter over being forced to give up his passport because of his affiliation with what were identified as subversive organizations.
"I was lucky to get work in Europe, but it was not my choice," he noted. "I do bear some long-term resentment."
Wexler would later win Academy Awards for his work on "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and "Bound for Glory."
IATSE prexy Thomas Short said he was not aware of the resolution, which would have come before the IA delegates later this week had it gotten out of committee and been approved at the district level.
The IATSE constitution has a provision that specifically bars any person from joining if they are dedicated to the overthrow of the government.
