The Directors Guild of America has hired veteran industry labor executive Rebecca Rhine as Western executive director. She will report to the DGA’s national executive director Russell Hollander and will begin service in October.
“I am so pleased that Rebecca will now be a part of the DGA’s senior executive team,” said Hollander. “With an incredible breadth of labor experience, and an extensive understanding of our industry, Rebecca will be an exceptional asset to the DGA and its membership. She is a skilled organizer and negotiator, and with three decades working for labor unions, she has demonstrated her substantial ability to take on difficult battles and achieve remarkable success. We look forward to putting her skills to work on behalf of directors and their teams.”
Among her other duties, Rhine will have oversight of the Guild’s Western Region and national responsibility for the Contracts Department, Safety and Agency Relations and will work closely with the Government Affairs department on state and local issues.
“It is an honor to have the opportunity to advocate for the rights of DGA members and bring my experience and passion representing entertainment industry workers to the Directors Guild of America,” stated Rhine about taking on the position. “I have such tremendous respect for the creativity and dedication of directors and the directorial team.”
Rhine, the granddaughter of union organizers, most recently served for the past seven years as the national executive director of the 10,000-member International Cinematographers Guild, IATSE Local 600. During her tenure, in addition to negotiating and enforcing Local 600 contracts, she expanded the Local’s focus on safety, communications and legislation. She served as an MPIPHP Director and a member of the L.A. County Labor Federation’s Executive Board. Prior to Local 600, for eight and a half years, Rhine served as executive director of the Municipal Executives Association, representing managers in the city and county of San Francisco. Other positions include: Northern Area director of SEIU Local 1000; assistant national executive director of AFTRA for Public Policy and Strategic Planning; executive director of AFT University Council (UC-AFT); and executive director of the AFTRA/SAG Local in San Francisco. Rhine is a double graduate of Golden Gate University with a MS in Human Resources Management and a BA in Administration of Justice.
