Matthew D. Loeb

At the 66th Quadrennial Convention held in Orlando, Florida, Matthew D. Loeb was re-elected to the position of International President. He has served as International President since July 31, 2008, when the IATSE General Executive Board unanimously elected him.

President Loeb has been a member of the United Scenic Artists Local 829 since 1989, a member of Local 52 since 1996 and is a Charter Member of Local 491 (established in 1994). He became an International Representative in June of 1994. Mr. Loeb was also the IATSE’s first Division Director of Motion Picture and Television Production, appointed to that position upon the restructuring of the Alliance and the establishment of divisions. He was elected by the General Executive Board to the position of International Vice President in February of 2002 and at the 65th Convention in 2005. In addition, he served as Chairman of the East Coast Council for better than 14 years. President Loeb holds a Bachelor of Science degree with concentration in labor studies achieved from the State University of New York's Empire State College in February 2008.

Mr. Loeb is credited with devising and implementing an aggressive organizing and bargaining strategy in the area of motion picture and television production. The policies laid the foundation for obtaining more than a thousand term agreements, the chartering of numerous new locals and the addition of thousands of new members, providing them with meaningful health and retirement benefits for the first time.

President Loeb serves as the Co-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the IATSE National Benefit Funds (comprised of pension, health, annuity, 401k and vacation plans) and is a Director on the Board of the Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plans. Mr. Loeb also serves and supports a number of industry entities that benefit IATSE members and their families, and the communities in which they live and work. He is Chairman of the Richard F. Walsh / Alfred W. DiTolla / Harold P. Spivak Foundation which sponsors academic scholarships for the children of IATSE members, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Actor's Fund, an Advisory Board member of the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and serves as a member of the Corporate Board of the Motion Picture and Television Fund.

In addition to the day-to-day imperatives of organizing, bargaining and servicing the membership, President Loeb believes that active involvement in the political arena is an essential component in the overall plan to best represent IATSE members. He believes that supporting legislation and the politicians who make workers’ rights a priority and, specifically, the interests of workers in entertainment and related industries, is paramount in providing security to IATSE families. Mr. Loeb held the position of IATSE Political Action Committee Treasurer and is now its Chairman. He remains committed to active and aggressive participation in political matters on behalf of IATSE members.

On August 5, 2008, President Loeb was appointed to the AFL-CIO Executive Council. Loeb’s appointment was approved at the opening session of the Council’s meeting at the Drake Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. President Loeb was reelected to the Council on September 16th at the 2009 AFL-CIO Convention held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In addition, Loeb is 1st Vice President of the media and entertainment sector of Union Network International and holds a seat on the World Executive Council. In October, Loeb was elected to the Board of Directors for America's Agenda Health Care for All, which provides state-of-the-art strategic support, including cutting-edge campaign communications, that initiatives for real health care reform.

President Loeb is dedicated to continuing to grow and strengthen the IATSE by staying abreast of technological changes, shifts in the labor market and industry trends. It is his belief that the IATSE must remain aggressive and evolve with industrial changes, stressing inclusive organizing policies, skilled and effective leadership and membership participation. He leads from the position that organizing is the lifeblood of the Union. Maintaining the IATSE’s position as the preeminent labor organization in its traditional crafts is contingent upon representing workers throughout the industry, with a unified and potent voice.