Losing a Close One

Last Friday there was a vote-count for a National Labor Relations Board election at a small animation studio. It didn't involve a lot of artists, but the campaign was fairly long. with flyers ... and meetings ... and finally battling information sheets: Local 839 is misinforming you about this." ... "The company is not truthful when they say ..."

Because mail-in ballots were involved, the counting took place at the NLRB's Region 31 headquarters ...

So on Friday afternoon the cardboard ballot box was opened, and the vote tally came down to

Grand Exalted Productions -- 8 votes

The Animation Guild -- 6 votes

In other words, 6 "yes" votes to be repped by the Animation Guild, and 8 "no" votes to not be represented.

We knew it was going to be close, one way or the other. We knew the artists were worrying about the viability of the show on which they worked. In the end the comfort of "status quo" prevailed over the uncertainty of voting for change.

But enough. Unions win campaigns, and lose campaigns. TAG has had its share of wins, but we've certainly taken losses. (Read about one here ... and also, if you have time, the comments.)

The Animation Guild will be continuing various organizing drives now in progress, some of which will end it contracts, others which will end up as dust in the wind. But anyone who doesn't feel there is a need for better wages, working conditions and benefits for people who work for a living is probably living somewhere besides the U.S. of A.

We intend to keep pushing for better.