What IATSE Local does

IATSE Local No.4 (legally, Theatrical Stage Employees Local No.4, IATSE) is a labor union chartered on April 8, 1888, that represents stagehands, riggers, sound, lighting, and audio-visual technicians working in live theater, film and television production, concerts, and stadium events across Brooklyn, Queens, and the Rockaways in New York City. The local is a founding member of IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO and NYC Central Labor Council. Members are dispatched to a defined employer roster that includes major venues such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music (Harvey Theater, Fisher, Opera House), Brooklyn Paramount, Brooklyn Steel, Citi Field, the U.S. Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Kings Theater, and Kaufman Astoria Studios, the latter hosting long-running productions including Sesame Street.

The local's commercial offering to members spans collective bargaining, workplace representation, and a benefits package that includes a defined benefit pension plan, a defined contribution annuity plan, and health and welfare coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs, life insurance) administered in partnership with the IATSE National Benefits Fund and Frank M. Vaccaro & Associates. Education and training are delivered through partnerships including NYC Technical College/CUNY tuition support, OSHA and ESTA safety courses, CTS certification, and apprenticeship programs at organized scenic shops (Steigelbauer Associates, Showman Fabricators). Technology is limited to a UnionActive-based member portal that provides online dues payment, availability calendars, member directories, scholarship applications, contract access, and online voting with two-factor authentication.

Revenue derives from member dues structured as a 4.0% wage assignment on all covered wages (reduced from 4.7% in 2003) plus per capita dues remitted to IATSE International under the parent organization's structure. The local additionally generates supplemental income and influence via capital deployment into organized scenic shops and studio operations (e.g., JC Studios in 1999, Steigelbauer and Showman investments in 2002). As a nonprofit mutual benefit association, IATSE Local No.4 is member-governed through democratic elections, monthly meetings, and contract ratification votes, with no external shareholders, venture funding, or public financial reporting.

Name

IATSE Local

Legal name

Theatrical Stage Employees Local No.4, IATSE

Website

https://iatselocal4.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Labor union (chartered 1888) representing stagehands, riggers, and technical crew across Brooklyn and Queens, New York, providing collective bargaining, portable benefits, and dispatch services to venues including BAM, Citi Field, Brooklyn Paramount, and Kaufman Astoria Studios.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Dues: Union members pay 4.0% wage assignment of all wages earned and to be earned. This assignment is irrevocable for one year or until termination of the agreement, whichever is sooner, and automatically renews for successive periods unless terminated by the member with 10-20 days notice.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IATSE Local No.4 is a regional labor union local that represents stagehands and theatrical technicians working in Brooklyn and Queens, New York City. It operates as part of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and provides collective bargaining, contract enforcement, and member services to its dues-paying stagehand members while dispatching labor to signatory entertainment employers within its jurisdiction.

Product overview

IATSE Local No.4 is a labor union representing stagehands and entertainment industry professionals in Brooklyn and Queens, New York. The organization provides a member portal with secure access to resources including availability calendars, a member directory, online dues payment, scholarship applications, contracts, forms, and voting. Core services encompass union membership representation with collective bargaining and workplace rights protection, as well as benefits administration including pension, annuity, health, welfare, dental, vision, and life insurance programs. The union also offers education and training programs through partnerships with OSHA, ESA, and other industry organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Union Membership for Stagehands Membership in IATSE Local No.4 for working stagehands and theatrical technicians in Brooklyn and Queens, providing access to collective bargaining, dispatched work opportunities, and member benefits.
• Stagehand Dispatch Services Dispatch of union stagehands to signatory entertainment employers (theaters, concert venues, broadcast productions, live-event producers) operating within the Brooklyn/Queens jurisdiction under the IATSE collective bargaining agreement.
• Member Benefits Administration Administration of negotiated benefits for members, including health, welfare, and pension contributions remitted by signatory employers under the collective bargaining agreement.

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Stiegelbauer Associates, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationA scenic shop and scenery company organized by Local No.4. Located in Brooklyn Navy Yard, builds scenery for television productions including Saturday Night Live and P&G soap operas. IATSE Local No.4 helped finance equipment including spray booth and dust collection system.
• Showman Fabricators, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationA non-union scenic shop that was organized by Local No.4 in December 1997. Local No.4 invested in real estate so they could remain in the jurisdiction. Merged with Variety Scenic Studios under a plan encouraged by Local No.4.
• Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerica's oldest performing arts center (built 1861), located in Brooklyn. Major employer of Local No.4 members. BAM Harvey Theater, BAM Fisher, and BAM Opera House are primary venues for members.
• Kaufman Astoria StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor film and television production studio in Queens. Local No.4 organizes maintenance workers, engineers, and cleaners at KAS (1982). Productions include Sesame Street, The Cosby Show, and various TV pilots.
• IATSEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States and Canada, AFL-CIO. Parent organization with over 100,000 members. IATSE Local No.4 is a founding member of IATSE (formed July 17, 1893).
• NYC Central Labor CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Labor Council affiliated with AFL-CIO. Part of the labor movement coordination in New York City.
• AFL-CIOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. The largest federation of unions in the United States. IATSE and its locals are affiliated with AFL-CIO CLC.
• NYS AFL-CIOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York State AFL-CIO. State-level labor federation. Business Agent Pete Fitzpatrick appointed Vice-President of NYS AFL-CIO.
• Brooklyn Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal chamber of commerce in Brooklyn. Listed as an affiliation link on the website.
• IATSE National Benefits FundcoreOthersNational benefit fund providing pension and welfare benefits. On January 1, 2000, Local No.4 merged its welfare fund with the IATSE National Health and Welfare Fund and became a participant in Plan 'A'.
• Frank M. Vaccaro & AssociatescoreOthersAdministers Annuity and Craft Development Funds for IATSE Local No.4. Contact: Dorinda Harrison at 877-773-4456.
• NYC Technical College/CUNYminorOthersLocal No.4 pays tuition for members taking stagecraft courses. Part of member education and training programs.
• Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA)minorOthersEntertainment industry association providing standards and resources. Listed as a resource link for members.
• Actors' Federal Credit UnionminorOthersFederal credit union for entertainment industry professionals. Listed as a resource for members.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Directors Guild of America: Labor union for directors and unit production managers in film/TV. Operates in the same NYC production market that supplies Local No.4 work, and shares the dues-funded collective bargaining model.
• Writers Guild of America East: Labor union representing writers in film, TV, and digital media. Same broader entertainment industry labor ecosystem but different craft — useful as a structural comparison for dues-funded member representation in NYC media.

Direct peers

• IATSE Local 52: NYC-based IATSE local representing motion picture studio mechanics, painters, and craft service. Operates in the same NYC film/TV production market that supplies work to Local No.4 members at Kaufman Astoria Studios and JC Studios.
• IATSE Local 1: Sister IATSE local representing stagehands in Manhattan — the closest geographic peer with overlapping jurisdiction in NYC live entertainment. Both locals dispatch stagehands to major NYC venues and operate under the same IATSE parent.
• IATSE Local 306: Sister IATSE local representing projectionists, operators, and backstage crafts in NYC metro area. Shares the same parent IATSE structure, dues-based funding model, and dispatch into NYC entertainment venues.
• Teamsters Local 817: NYC-area Teamsters local covering entertainment drivers, warehouse, and event logistics. Works alongside Local No.4 at the same NYC venues and productions under similar collective bargaining frameworks.
• IATSE Local 829: United Scenic Artists — IATSE local for designers, art directors, and scenic artists in NYC. Closely related craft union operating in the same NYC production ecosystem with similar collective bargaining and benefits structure.

Broad incumbents

• American Federation of Musicians: National labor union representing professional musicians. Comparable in structure (dues-funded, AFL-CIO affiliated, provides portable benefits), and works alongside Local No.4 stagehands at concerts and Broadway-style productions.
• SAG-AFTRA: Largest entertainment industry labor union (performers, broadcasters, recording artists). While a different craft than Local No.4, it shares the AFL-CIO affiliation, dues-funded structure, and representation role in NYC entertainment productions.
• IATSE Local 600: International Cinematographers Guild — much larger IATSE local covering camera professionals across the U.S. Same parent union, similar dues/benefits architecture, but national scope and different craft focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pension-fund-of-stage-employees

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about IATSE Local