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ATPAM and Casting Directors Discuss Merger

Talks Resume After a Six Year Hiatus

Merger talks between ATPAM and the Casting Society of America (CSA) were resurrected in 2000 after a six-year lapse.

Key legitimate theatre members of the CSA approached ATPAM this summer to reopen talks about member affiliation based on what is believed to be a community of interest between ATPAM and CSA Members. Committees were appointed by both organizations to further explore the perceived community of interest, whether impediments to a merger exist, and to develop a plan in the event an affiliation agreement is approved and moves forward.

In brief the plan under development is to eventually amend ATPAM’s constitution to create a separate chapter for Casting Directors working in live theatre. The Union will then assist the new chapter in developing and promulgating collective bargaining agreements throughout North America. The plan will also spell out how the new chapter would be represented at the Board level and an apprentice program similar to the programs now in existence for Managers and Press Agents would also be outlined. Employee benefits are a key issue for CSA members, who currently do not have access to pension or health benefits through CSA.

Talks between the Union and CSA began initially in 1994. That same year, ATPAM affiliated with the IATSE and as a result the charter issued by the IATSE included jurisdictional authorization for ATPAM to represent Casting Directors. However, the talks with the CSA subsequently broke off because neither organization was ready to move forward and embrace the various changes necessary to reach an agreement.

ATPAM and the CSA committees are still reviewing various affiliation proposals and will bring a plan to ATPAM’s Board early in 2001 for consideration.