Training

IATSE Local 891 is committed to assisting members to maintain and improve their skills, safety, and knowledge of applicable rules and regulations, through an extensive training program.

Types of Training

  • Safety, usually 100% subsidized and available to all members.
  • Skills Upgrade Training, available to all members.
  • Software reimbursement, available to all members.
  • Additional (in-house) training may be offered and is advertised through the IATSE Local 891 eBulletin and department group emails.
  • LinkedIn Learning (previously Lynda.com) is completely free for IATSE workers, providing access to the leading online learning platform that helps anyone learn business, software, technology and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. Subscriptions are offered through the IATSE Training Trust Fund. Current subscribers will continue uninterrupted and new subscribers can download the application form. Click here for more information.

Friendly Reminder: The Executive Board has paused all Jurisdictional Training, pending the outcome of a review by the Senior Steward and Training Department.

Jurisdictional Training is a special category of instruction intended to address a skill-gap within a department or departments, which has been specifically identified by BC productions and/or IATSE 891 as preventing 891 members from being employed due to the lack of that specific skill. Thus, the purpose of jurisdictional training is to specifically address skill gaps that have resulted in the loss of unionized work opportunities.

While Jurisdictional Training is paused, these courses or skills will now fall under the normal skills training category and can still be taken, but will only be reimbursed at the 50% rate up to the yearly cap. Members are encouraged to check this Training webpage regularly for the most up to date information on what types of training programs are available.

Member Reimbursement Allotment

As of April 1, 2024, members will have a maximum reimbursement allotment of $500 yearly cap. This cap includes all requests for reimbursement for Skills Upgrade Training and Software Reimbursements, combined into this singular amount. This cap does not apply to approved Safety courses, or to in-house training offered through IATSE 891

Training Skills Upgrade Reimbursement

As of April 1, 2024, the 891 Skills Upgrade Reimbursement will cover the following:

  • Members can receive up to $500 in total reimbursements yearly, this amount combines both skills upgrade courses as well as software purchases into this singular amount.
  • Members can take any skills upgrade courses that are directly related to IATSE Local 891 film work (in which a certificate of completion and receipt are provided), and submit receipts to be considered for reimbursement for up to 50% of the course fee, up to maximum yearly cap of $500.
  • Members can submit reimbursement request for any software purchases to be considered for reimbursement for up to 50% of the software fee, up to the maximum yearly cap.
  • More information on Skills Upgrade Training can be found on the Skills Upgrade section of this website.
  • Reimbursements related to Safety, as approved by the Executive Board, can be found on the Safety section.

Reimbursement Approval Guidelines

The following requirements must be met for a reimbursement approval, and will apply to all reimbursement requests including both courses and software:

  • Member in good standing.
  • Worked 30 days in the last 3 years.
  • Requests for reimbursement must be emailed to training@iatse.com within quarterly deadlines.

The following additional requirements must be met for all courses, including Skills Upgrade and Safety courses.

  • Course must not involve consumption of controlled substances, including but not limited to alcohol and THC products.
  • Course must provide a certificate of completion and a receipt of payment, both of which must be presented with the reimbursement request.
  • Course topics must be respectful of IATSE 891’s Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. Courses with topics against these principles will not be approved.
  • Only the course fee inclusive of taxes is eligible for reimbursement. Items including but not limited to: shipping costs, materials, cancellation fees, license fees, exam fees, travel or accomodations will be declined.
  • The same course must not have been taken within 12 months of the original course start date.

Reimbursement Submission Guidelines

Members must adhere to quarterly deadlines for submitting training or software reimbursement receipts. Reimbursement requests received after quarterly deadlines will be declined. Reimbursement deadlines are as follows:

Courses taken / Software purchased between:

  • Q1 – January 1 and March 31 – Due date of April 15
  • Q2 – April 1 and June 30 – Due date of July 15
  • Q3 – July 1 and September 31 – Due date of October 15
  • Q4 – October 1 and December 31 – Due date of January 15

Reimbursement requests for subscription-based online training platforms will only be approved if they provide a certificate of completion. Subscriptions to LinkedIn Learning will not be approved, as members already have access to a free subscription through the IATSE Training Trust Fund. For monthly billed subscriptions, for each individual month being requested for reimbursement, members must provide a minimum of one certificate of completion from the subscription service. For annually billed subscription reimbursement requests, members must provide a minimum of one certificate of completion from the subscription service.

For purchases in US funds please provide your credit card statement with the transaction amount in Canadian funds so reimbursement can be issued in Canadian dollars. Please ensure you black out all other personal information on the statement copy you provide for privacy reasons or the statement cannot be accepted.

A reimbursement cheque will be mailed in 2-3 weeks.