After its reconstitution and first meeting in September, the IATSE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee held elections on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 to choose officers to sit on its new executive committee. The IATSE DEI executive committee consists of two Co-Chairpersons, a Secretary, and six Members-at-Large. In creating this executive committee, the officers will establish and prioritize actionable goals for the committee through open forum and outline the committees’ next steps for action.

IATSE is pleased to announce the elected Co-Chairpersons of the newly formed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee are Local 764 Trustee, Kimberly Butler-Gilkeson and Local 480 President, Liz Pecos.

“I am so honored to be elected by my fellow committee members, all of whom are amazing leaders in their own right, to shepherd us on this important journey,” said Butler-Gilkeson. “I am so fortunate to have Liz Pecos as Co-Chair to share in this work with me. Her wisdom and experience will be invaluable to this work committee and myself. Together, we hope to create a lasting framework for all IATSE members to be part of an equitable, inclusive, and safe working environment and an actively anti-racist worker organization that represents all of their members to its fullest capability.

Butler-Gilkeson’s diversity and inclusion contributions include her work on Local 764’s Social Justice Task force, BIPOC Steering Committee, and attending the AFL-CIO’s Civil and Human Rights Conference.

”I am deeply honored to be elected by my Brothers, Sisters, and Kin of the newly formed IATSE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee to serve as Co-Chair,” said Pecos. “I wish to thank and acknowledge President Loeb for his steadfast leadership and meaningful action in the formation of this important committee. I am eager to work with the esteemed diverse group of elected officers and committee members and I am grateful to serve alongside the talented and knowledgeable Sister Kimberly Butler-Gilkeson as Co-Chair.”

As a result of Pecos’s expertise in social justice and diversity training, she chairs several union committees: Vice President on the New Mexican Federation of Labor Executive Board, the Political Coordinator and Women’s Committee Coordinator for IATSE District 5. Pecos is also the first female and first woman of color elected to the presidency of IATSE Local 480, which represents Motion Picture and Television production technicians in New Mexico.

Pecos continued, “My experience on the committee so far has been enlightening, empowering, and healing and I am grateful for this opportunity to help steer the committee and bring to fruition our goals. I believe this year and the statement issued from our IATSE General Executive Board titled The Ground We Stand On is a turning point for our union and I am proud and humbled to be a part of the shift towards effective change and upending systemic racism in the arts and entertainment industry. Together we can create and promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive union and workplace.”

With support of members from the executive committee, both Co-Chairpersons are prepared to lead the committee’s mission-driven goals to enhance and ensure full and equal opportunity for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and in our union.

Learn more from IATSE, here.