Brother Kaplan and I were out today pitching in at this event:
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Teamsters Local 399 organized picket lines Monday morning outside the Burbank production office of Original Productions, the producer of the Spike TV show. “1000 Ways to Die” has become the latest flash point in an effort by Hollywood's leading unions to extend contracts to the rapidly growing cable TV sector. ...
We picketed all morning and part of the afternoon. There will be more picketing tomorrow and beyond.
Reality TV is one of the areas that every union and guild is looking to organize. There's been some success, but everybody knows there needs to be more. Maybe that's why SAG, the WGAw, and the Teamsters were out on the line today.
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Good for IATSE. Keep marching forward!
Below, a link about a very real flashpoint of where the 'new' information age consumer economy could come to grips with old realities. Americans have a real opportunity to reacquaint themselves with what labor protection is for and why it is often needed by supporting job actions. If workers in these warehouses could see what is possible, and simply group together to protest their conditions to the media, the public dialog would change dramatically, and positive things can happen.
http://motherjones.com/politics/2012/02/mac-mcclelland-free-online-shipping-warehouses-labor
Sure would be great if the Animation Guild had the power to do something like this.
We do and have .. but I'm sure you already know that.
However, if there are any animation crews interested in representation (as the crew for 1000 Ways To Die and Biggest Loser were) and are willing to sign rep cards and walk out if the studio refuses to recognize the union as your bargaining agent (as the crew for 1000 Ways To Die and Biggest Loser were), <a href="mailto:skaplan@animationguild.org>Email Me</a>.
The Guild has the ability to Strike and Picket? Thats news to me.
Sure do. Email me sometime and we'll chat.
skaplan@animationguild.org
Sure would be great if the Animation Guild had the power to do something like this.
When an animation crew walks off the job, we'll have pickets out.
The last time we came close to this was in 2004, during the campaign to organize Film Roman. At that time, the crew was ready to walk during contract negotiations.
The company saw the light and changed earlier positions.
"When an animation crew walks off the job, we'll have pickets out."
But generally, we cant. Something about a "No Strike" Clause written in by the studios, and handed to them on a silver platter by 839 in return for a few cents raise at that time of negotiations.
"If workers in these warehouses could see what is possible,..."
That isn't the real problem: its the individual harrassment that management imparts on the artist that the Union says "we can't tell THEM how to run their business".
Imagine the hypocrosy you realize when the veneer of the workplace is all shiney and like lego-land for kids, but behind closed doors, the message is "you should be glad to be working here, you are really as disposable as used-toilet-paper."
When the Union prohibits and protects us from behavior like that, I'll be more glad to be a part of them.
I mean, we ARE the ones doing the work, just what are they doing for us?
"When an animation crew walks off the job, we'll have pickets out."
But generally, we cant. Something about a "No Strike" Clause written in by the studios, and handed to them on a silver platter by 839 in return for a few cents raise at that time of negotiations.
Every guild and union in Hollywood, from SAG to WGA to IATSE, has a "no strike" clause in its contract. Without exception.
What part of this don't you get?
That doesn't prevent strikes at negotiation time, nor strikes during organizing drives. Which is happening above.
If you want a little more information about how things actually work, feel free to call.
(818-845-7500
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