An injury to one is an ‘@ia_story’ to all: social media and spaces of labor solidarity in the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees

Keywords: Labor Geography, Social Movements, Virtual Space, Digital Space, social media, Media Geography, film
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Sunday
Session Start / End Time: 2/27/2022 02:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/27/2022 03:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 41

Abstract

This paper examines the role of the Instagram account ‘@ia_stories/IATSE Stories’ in building solidarity and working class consciousness among film and television industry workers in and around the U.S. labor union International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees in 2021. This social media account published hundreds of anonymous testimonials regarding grueling working conditions and exploitation in film and television production, and gathered over 160,000 online followers during months of contract negotiations for technical workers in the industry. Followers of the account credit it for raising awareness and sparking discussion of working conditions, and building a militant spirit among IATSE members who voted with a near 99% supermajority in October 2021 to authorize their union leadership to call a strike. Through analysis of testimonial posts and comments on them, and interviews with IATSE members and film industry workers, this paper examines the pitfalls and promise of social media spaces in building workers' solidarity in the 21st century.