Theater union endorses Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton is getting an endorsement from the union for theater actors, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).

“Hillary Clinton is the only candidate that reached out to discuss issues affecting [our] members,” IATSE International President Matthew Loeb said in a statement Wednesday announcing the group’s endorsement.

{mosads}“She spent her valuable time discussing our unique issues and challenges with me, demonstrating not just her support for workers in general, but also that she is concerned with the well-being of [our] members.”

The theater workers union has more than 125,000 members. It is the 21st union to back Clinton during the 2016 election cycle.

The IATSE hopes Clinton will address digital piracy, workers’ rights, and misclassification of workers, among other issues.

“For decades, members of IATSE have entertained and delighted Americans, but that’s not all,” Clinton said in a statement. “IATSE has fought for good pay and safe working conditions and the chance for everyone who works hard to get ahead.  As President, I will stand with IATSE and with hard-working Americans across our country.

“We’ll fight back against corporate efforts to misclassify workers as independent contractors in an attempt to shirk paying fair wages and earned benefits,” she added. “And we’ll stand up for the right to organize and bargain collectively.

I’m proud to have the Theatrical Stage Employees standing with me and I’ll always stand with them,” said Clinton.