Media and Entertainment International

Former global union federation (1993–1999)

Media and Entertainment International
Merged into	Union Network International
Founded	3–4 December 1993
Dissolved	31 December 1999
Key people	Jim Wilson, Gen Sec
Affiliations	ICFTU

The Media and Entertainment International (MEI) was a global union federation representing workers in the arts.

The federation was founded in 1993 with the merger of the International Secretariat of Arts, Communications, Media and Entertainment Trade Unions and the International Federation of Trade Unions of Audio-Visual Workers. Originally named the International Secretariat for Arts, Mass Media and Entertainment Trade Unions (ISAMMETU), in 1995 it renamed itself as the "Media and Entertainment International".^[1]

The federation campaigned in support of public service broadcasting, and in support of minimum working conditions for freelance film and theatre workers. The federation failed to agree a common policy on whether governments should mandate that a particular percentage of media should be produced locally.^[2]

On 1 January 2000, the federation merged with the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical, Professional and Technical Employees, International Graphical Federation and Communications International, to form the Union Network International.^[3]

Throughout its existence the federation was led by general secretary Jim Wilson and president Tony Lennon.^[2]

References

^ Docherty, James C.; van der Velden, Sjaak (2012). Historical Dictionary of Organized Labor. Scarecrow Press. p. 180. ISBN 0810879883.
^ ^a ^b Gordon, Michael E.; Turner, Lowell (2000). Transnational Cooperation Among Labor Unions. Cornell Press. pp. 174–175, 296. ISBN 0801437792.
^ "FAQs". UNI Global Union. Retrieved 9 May 2018.

Global union federations

Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI)

Mergers	International Federation of Building and Wood Workers (2005)
Leadership	Ambet Yuson, general secretary • Per-Olof Sjöö, president

Education International (EI)

Mergers	International Federation of Free Teachers' Unions (1992) World Confederation of Teachers (2007) World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession (1992)
Leadership	David Edwards, general secretary • Susan Hopgood, president

IndustriALL Global Union

Mergers	International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions International Federation of Chemical and General Workers' Unions Miners' International Federation Universal Alliance of Diamond Workers International Federation of Petroleum and Chemical Workers International Metalworkers' Federation International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation International Textile and Garment Workers' Federation International Federation of Textile Workers' Associations International Garment Workers' Federation International Federation of Boot and Shoe Operatives and Leather Workers
Leadership	Valter Sanches, general secretary • Jörg Hofmann, president

Mergers

Leadership

Valter Sanches, general secretary • Jörg Hofmann, president

International Arts and Entertainment Alliance (IFA·IFM)

Mergers	International Federation of Variety Artists
Leadership	Benoît Machuel, general secretary • John F. Smith, president

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

Mergers	International Federation of Journalists of Allied or Free Countries
Leadership	Anthony Bellanger, general secretary • Younes M'Jahed, president

International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)

Mergers	International Commission for Railwaymen (1898) International Federation of Ship, Dock and River Workers (1896)
Leadership	Stephen Cotton, general secretary • Paddy Crumlin, president

International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant,
Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF)

Mergers	International Federation of Tobacco Workers (1958) International Federation of Plantation and Agricultural Workers (1994) International Landworkers' Federation (1960) Plantation Workers International Federation (1960) International Union of Hotel, Restaurant and Bar Workers (1961)
Leadership	Sue Longley, general secretary • Mark Lauritsen, president

Public Services International (PSI)

Mergers	International Federation of Civil Servants (1935)
Leadership	Daniel Bertossa, general secretary • Britta Lejon, president

UNI Global Union

Mergers	Postal, Telegraph and Telephone International International Federation of Commercial, Clerical, Professional and Technical Employees International Graphical Federation Media and Entertainment International International Secretariat of Entertainment Trade Unions
Leadership	Christy Hoffman, general secretary • Ruben Cortina, president