tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post115169429886865520..comments2024-03-29T02:18:35.303-07:00Comments on TAG Blog: Organizing Film Roman (IDT Entertainment)Steve Huletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537689111433326847noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1152136754873713612006-07-05T14:59:00.000-07:002006-07-05T14:59:00.000-07:00I'm constantly being reminded that for many people...I'm constantly being reminded that for many people it doesn't matter how wonderful, or terrible, the union is in reality (in terms of pension, health, greviance process, fighting for wage improvements and credits, etc.) -- what really affects people's perceptions are often purely symbolic. People will hate the union forever because of a random comment, or because of a third-hand tale of union indifference or abuse (often accepted as fact without the listener wondering if they're getting the straight scoop).<BR/><BR/>Time and again I see people act against their own best interests over purely emotional (and often trivial) things.Kevin Kochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14678528568112279975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1152121784894743222006-07-05T10:49:00.000-07:002006-07-05T10:49:00.000-07:00Quite well, in fact.Tom wrote a pretty hot letter,...Quite well, in fact.<BR/><BR/>Tom wrote a pretty hot letter, I looked at it and suggested he change a few things, and we sent it out.<BR/><BR/>It went over like a load of horse manure. I got a bunch of angry phone calls from Film Romanians, as did Tom (and one elliptical death threat). Thoughout, I explained that the PRESIDENT is the head of the guild and I'm not in the habit of censoring the head of the guild. And that the President wrote the letter, not me.<BR/><BR/>It didn't help TAG's campaign, but the campaign wouldn't have been victorious anyway.<BR/><BR/>There was one interesting postscript: a Film Roman employee went over to work at Disney and was still hot about the letter. The ex-FRian showed Tom Sito's angry letter to a Disney animator, expecting sympathetic outrage about how horrible and abusive it was. Instead he got:<BR/><BR/>"This thing seems pretty accurate about the situation to me. What's your problem with it?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1151980655311053782006-07-03T19:37:00.000-07:002006-07-03T19:37:00.000-07:00Perhaps Film Roman might have joined up years ago ...Perhaps Film Roman might have joined up years ago if the Union hadn't sent out that notice in the early nineties to Film Roman employees: "JUST SIGN THE FUCKING CARD!!" Remember?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1151818228718887682006-07-01T22:30:00.000-07:002006-07-01T22:30:00.000-07:00To clarify a bit further, the first step in most u...To clarify a bit further, the first step in most unionizing drives is collecting "rep cards" (cards from individual employees at a studio expressing interest in being represented by a given union in collective bargaining -- and yes, the rep cards are kept completely confidential from the studio). That's all a rep card is -- an official, confidential, non-binding expression of union interest.<BR/><BR/>If the union gets enough rep cards (at least 40% of the employees, but usually you want more, as Steve indicated), and you can go to the NLRB, who verifies the cards and calls for an in-studio vote. So even if you signed a rep card, you could later vote no, and vice versa. The rep cards expire after 6 months, or when an employee leaves the studio.<BR/><BR/>If the union wins that formal election election, it only means that the company is required to negotiate in good faith with the union to reach a contract. If the negotiations stalemate for long enough, the whole process dies. As Steve said, in many industries the success rate on reaching an actual contract even after winning an election is far from certain. I think our record is significantly better than 50%, but I could be wrong.<BR/><BR/>If the union wins that vote by a wide margain, and the employees are solid in their desire to go union, then the likelihood of successful negotiations go up astronomically. That was certainly the case at Film Roman. So, yes, the Film Roman animation employees are union. As is the IDT feature group, though that came later.Kevin Kochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14678528568112279975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1151815799136095692006-07-01T21:49:00.000-07:002006-07-01T21:49:00.000-07:00To clarify: The Animation Guild won a union elect...To clarify: The Animation Guild won a union election at Film Roman 13 1/2 years after losing one.<BR/><BR/>Three months later, we reached agreement on Film Roman's first union contract. That's a story in itself -- told in due time.<BR/><BR/>Even when unions or guilds WIN National Labor Relations Board elections, collective bargaining agreements between union or company are achieved less than 50% of the time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1151810120118143422006-07-01T20:15:00.000-07:002006-07-01T20:15:00.000-07:00"Garfield" Good show, cool cat.I must say I'm glad..."Garfield" Good show, cool cat.<BR/><BR/>I must say I'm glad my daughters are 17 and 20 years of age and didn't have to sit and watch "Homer" or the "Propain Man"<BR/>for entertainment.<BR/><BR/>As I see it. It took 13 years for TV shows to decay.<BR/><BR/>Nothing against the union.<BR/><BR/>Everybody have a great 4th and enjoy the 5th too.<BR/><BR/>Dog Man.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1151773836196895042006-07-01T10:10:00.000-07:002006-07-01T10:10:00.000-07:00Sorry for my ignorance, but what does this mean, e...Sorry for my ignorance, but what does this mean, exactly? Will employees at Film Roman be able to become unionized now?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com