Any who are interested in joining IATSE Local 205 as a member are required to attend one unionism class before applying.
Our next unionism class offerings for 2023 are being scheduled. Check this page again soon for updates.
Dates To Be Determined
Please register in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Combining elements from a number of his rigging and safety courses, in 2020 Brother Robert Koch developed his excellent offering: Rigging and ETCP Preparations.
Brother Koch was accepted into the first online “Training Techniques & Course Development Workshop” and this class, first presented locally for 205, is now part of the IATSE Train the Trainer curriculum library!
This coming week, Monday Nov. 22nd beginning at 10:30am, join Bobby for another opportunity to celebrate our craft and learn from a leading industry professional. Offering something for every skill level, however those eligible to test for ETCP rigging certification should not miss this opportunity!
Free for IATSE members and those working under IATSE contracts, flyer below:
Email interest to:
The IATSE TTF course description:
This course provides a general introduction to the profession of Event Rigging, as well as preparation for others wishing to elevate and become a Certified Rigging Technician. Topics include review of responsibilities, people in charge, policies, liabilities, tools and equipment used, proper procedures, formulas and calculations, as well as many OSHA requirements. Through this course students gain an understanding of basic and advanced skills used throughout the entertainment industry.
• Gain an overall understanding of the production process
• How to interpret and understand weights and ratings
• Proper use of tools and equipment, including basic troubleshooting methods
• Safe methods for proper placement and positioning of equipment
• OSHA requirements for Rigging and Fall Protection
• Requirements needed to possibly become a ETCP certified technician
DATE: Nov. 22nd, 2021
LOCATION: Long Center Dell Hall, Austin Texas
INSTRUCTOR: Robert Koch, ETCP certified
This course is made possible through the IATSE TTF Course Reimbursement Program
The IATSE Training Trust is offering a three-day, 4½ hours per day, Train the Trainer intensive in a distance-learning format.
This workshop is intended for individual trainers who actively teach craft skills or safety classes for their local or are developing those classes for their local. What can trainers expect?
The workshop is for trainers of every experience level.
Upcoming opportunities, attendance is limited:
May 19-21
July 14-16
September 15-17
December 1-3
Any who are interested in joining IATSE Local 205 as a member are required to attend one unionism class before applying.
Our next online unionism class offerings (via Zoom due to COVID restrictions on meetings) will be held:
Sunday, April 25, 2021, 2-5PM CST
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvfuGrqz0sEtQ8QvcdEzBHF5MYzyxSH8bJ
Sunday, July 25, 2021, 2-5PM CST
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYudu2prj0qGtZICBgFKAlrFZ1NnXV7nhiF
Sunday, October 24, 2021, 2-5PM CST
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkceqvqDgoGd3HGq29uFpbwX3qUuX-yBqU
Please register in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
All of the classes above are currently online via Zoom and are subject to change as we adjust to developments per C-19.
For 205 Members via Announce:
Brothers and Sisters, Next month Brother Patrick Crowley will present OSHA 10 Entertainment, a unique approach to gaining a certification that many employers and workplaces now require.
Temporarily allowed by OSHA to be presented online and divided into five small sessions, this workshop was designed by IATSE members and utilizes examples from the entertainment industry.
OSHA 10 certification cards will be provided to 15 attendees that meet all instruction requirements.Offered at no cost to IATSE members, enrollment is limited. Email interest to the Vice President.
OSHA 10 – Entertainment – November 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 (9am-noon)
Also worth noting that some of the only work available during COVID right now is construction/installation work. Many of these jobsites require OSHA-10, and it’s not something you can get last minute.
It’s not too late to register for the class tomorrow! Just email to register for the class. Space is limited.
If you miss this class, it’s not the end of the world. Patrick will be teaching these classes every quarter, so there will be more opportunities.
The class teaches safe operation of boom lifts, scissor lifts and aerial work platforms. In addition to the class for certification, Patrick holds a practice session in the afternoon for hands on practice. The classes are held at Briggs Equipment rental.
2019 Membership Drive
The membership drive starts April 1, 2019 and ends June 30, 2019. Anyone submitting an application for membership during this time period will have their application and initiation fees reduced by 50%. Normally, our initiation fee is $200 and our application fee is $100, total cost $300. But during our membership drive, these fees will be reduced to $100 and $50 respectively, $150 total cost.
To become a member of IATSE Local 205 you must be a resident of Austin or the greater Austin area for at least 18 consecutive months before you apply. The application procedure is as follows:
Attend one of our unionism classes. Classes are held at the IBEW #520 union hall, 3rd Floor, 4818 E. Ben White Blvd, Austin, TX. 78741. Membership drive classes will be held on the following dates:
Sunday April 7th, 2pm-4:30pm
Friday, May 3rd, 2pm-4:30pm
Sunday, June 2nd, 2pm-4:30pm
For hiring hall subscribers, these classes are on Call Steward and can be wish listed. FaceBook events have been created on our FaceBook page, which you can RSVP your desire to attend. Alternatively, you can sign up to attend a class by emailing Walk-ins are also welcome.
After attending our unionism class, you must request an applicant interview with Local 205’s Executive Board by emailing . Interviews for our membership drive will be conducted at the following dates and times:
Monday, April 29, 6pm
Monday, May 20, 10m
Monday, June 24, 6pm
When making your interview request, please make clear the date you wish to be interviewed.
Interviews will be conducted at our union office: 4818 E. Ben White Blvd., Suite 204, Austin, TX. 78741. Applicants granted an interview should bring with them a $100 check/cashier’s check or money order made payable to Local 205, and a $50 cashier’s check/money order made payable to IATSE. Note, IATSE does not accept personal checks.
Interviews will only be granted to those who have completed steps one and two above. Interviews are by invitation only, we cannot accept walk-ins.
IATSE Local 205 is starting an educational seminar program to help raise the skill levels for all workers in Austin. These are short seminars on basic crafts and skills, presented by IATSE Local 205 for any and all Austin stagehands.
The first educational seminar will be held on Monday, October 24th from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the IBEW Building, 3rd Floor meeting room, 4818 E. Ben White Blvd, Austin TX 78741.
The topic of October’s seminar is basic audio- connectors, equipment, signal flow and gain structure.
There is no cost to attend the seminar, however you must RSVP to so that we can plan for how many people will attend.
Todd Drga
IATSE Local 205 Vice President
Via Sam Chesney, Steward Committee Chair:
Brothers and Sisters,
Local 205 will be offering Steward 2 training and testing again in October. This course is open to all members who have completed previous Stewarding courses. There is no charge associated with this class.
Dates: October 5th and 6th from 9am to 5pm
Location: IBEW 3rd Floor Meeting Hall
Please RSVP to
The Steward 2 course is for members who have completed Steward 1 training and offers additional instruction in writing grievances, investigating complaints and incidents, dealing with management, CBA analysis, Call Steward, Hiring Hall paperwork, and a lot more. In addition, the second day, October 6th, we will be offering the Steward exam.
Note that the Business Agent is under standing orders from the membership to appoint and crew stewards who have passed this test and attended these classes above other considerations. Also note that in order to keep your qualified steward status you are required to re-certify bi-annually.
Sam Chesney
Chair, Steward’s Committee
From the Education Committee via Vice President Drga:
Brothers and Sisters,
Local 205 will be presenting another round of Steward training classes. We have expanded the Steward training into three separate classes:
Steward Training I – open to all members and required for apprentices. The objective of this class is to introduce the Steward’s job and responsibilities, how workers relate to the Steward and Union, Unionism and Solidarity, reading and understanding a contract, and safety on the job.
Steward Training II – open to all members. This class will prepare members to act as Stewards on the job. Topics will include advanced contract interpretation, representation on the job, Investigation of incidents and complaints and proper completion of Steward paperwork. There will be a test at the end of this class and graduates that pass the test are eligible to become certified Stewards. If you are already a certified Steward, then you must take this class and pass the test to re-certify.
Steward Training III – by invitation – This class will focus on advanced aspects of the grievance process, including filing, investigation, and taking grievances to arbitration. Graduates of this class will be involved in formation of a Local 205 Grievance Committee.
Note that each of these classes will be 2 days long and you must attend both days. The dates for the upcoming classes are:
Steward I : Jan 12-13, 2016
Steward II : Feb 5-6, 2016
Steward II : Sometime in May/June 2016
Steward III : Sometime in May/June 2016
These classes are offered to Local 205 members at no cost. Please keep in mind that there is a significant cost in materials and time to present each class, so if you sign up for a class we expect you to attend.
To register, email the education address with your intent to attend.