tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post3254589277444451601..comments2024-03-29T02:18:35.303-07:00Comments on TAG Blog: Organizer's Notes .. The Power of FearSteve Huletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537689111433326847noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-61058038230305870672010-10-06T23:16:58.416-07:002010-10-06T23:16:58.416-07:00"I'd happily work union again, and I hear..."I'd happily work union again, and I heartily recommend union work for any "inexperienced newbie.""<br /><br />Well you got what you wished for. Scores of inexperienced newbies being hired over YOU. And you have only 35 more teeth to perform RC on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-6407300448056058072010-10-06T18:33:20.290-07:002010-10-06T18:33:20.290-07:00Even if the inexperienced newbies only work on one...<b><i>Even if the inexperienced newbies only work on one production and never see ant benefits, hey we got their money.</i></b><br /><br />Someone else already tackled this bit of foolishness, but I'd like to chip in my $0.02.<br /><br />In 2004 I worked one union gig. In ten years of VFX work, I have only worked union that one time. For that one gig, I paid nearly $3000 in union initiation fees and quarterly dues.<br /><br />I don't complain, though. In one year, I got that $3000 back many times over in union benefits. For example, under the union dental plan, I received $3000 worth of dental services for myself and my spouse (root canals, whee). I also got a year's worth of top-flight health insurance coverage for myself and my spouse that would have cost $750/month to continue under COBRA. In addition, I got severance pay and almost $2000 set aside for me in my IAP.<br /><br />I'd happily work union again, and I heartily recommend union work for any "inexperienced newbie."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-52725972208489082932010-10-06T16:49:30.411-07:002010-10-06T16:49:30.411-07:00Definition of PUSILLANIMOUS
: lacking courage and ...Definition of PUSILLANIMOUS<br />: lacking courage and resolution : marked by contemptible timidity <br /><br />Origin of PUSILLANIMOUS<br />Late Latin pusillanimis, from Latin pusillus very small (diminutive of pusus boy) + animus spirit; perhaps akin to Latin puer child — more at puerile, animatepappy dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07634780939188002027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-63266035367165973192010-10-06T14:01:59.192-07:002010-10-06T14:01:59.192-07:00Whoever draws the bottom line knows how much free ...Whoever draws the bottom line knows how much free overtime & how much goofing off on the job we do to the millisecond & has a good idea how much we need to be underpaid to keep us in fear. He/she doesn't know whether we stay late out of fear, professional pride, dedication to team or if we just get joy out of our work. In other words, whether we are men or worker units in a mathematical model.<br /><br />Does it matter? If it doesn't matter to us, it sure as hell doesn't matter to systems analysis.pappy dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07634780939188002027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-33505778689089432032010-10-06T13:20:33.240-07:002010-10-06T13:20:33.240-07:00Sorry to delete the previous comment, but calling ...Sorry to delete the previous comment, but calling out another website/blog who has disparaging things to say about the Guild and its officers and/or employees is off this topic.<br /><br />Anon 8:47am -<br /><br />Yes, really. Its fear that keeps artists from stopping any Union representative as they "huff and puff" right by to tell them of a grievance-worthy complaint. We support every member in any way possible. The only obstacle in our way is the fear of the artist. We can't support what we aren't aware of. <br /><br />It sounds like you've experienced some trouble and weren't satisfied with your union representation. Feel free to contact me at <a href="mailto:skaplan@animationguild.org?subject=I%20need%20to%20file%20a%20grievance" rel="nofollow">skaplan@animationguild.org</a> and we can discuss what happened and how we can help.Steven Kaplanhttp://www.animationguild.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-24538532512246323252010-10-06T13:00:00.957-07:002010-10-06T13:00:00.957-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-84140524162408912872010-10-06T11:47:05.532-07:002010-10-06T11:47:05.532-07:00And inexperienced newbies, even TAG supports them ...<b>And inexperienced newbies, even TAG supports them over experienced labor as long as they get their union dues.</b><br /><br />Please explain how this is true.<br /><br /><b>Even if the inexperienced newbies only work on one production and never see ant benefits, hey we got their money.</b><br /><br />No benefits? I know you vest in one of the pension plans after 10 weeks of work. And after 6 months you've qualified for substantial health benefits. Not to mention a week's severance pay after 6 months. and two weeks after a year. The other pension plan does take a while to vest, but there are a lot of benefits that come pretty early. <br /><br />On the other hand, I didn't end up paying a penny to the union until I'd been working for several months, and even then I didn't pay off my initiation fee for almost a year, at which point I'd already accrued substantial benefits. So I'm really not sure what you're talking about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-33092868283391616642010-10-06T10:48:44.559-07:002010-10-06T10:48:44.559-07:00If you want to have the tired seniority debate, ju...If you want to have the tired seniority debate, just follow the California teacher's union debate right now. Complete race to the bottom. Either lay off a lot of 'newbies' or a few 'experienced' teachers. So which is it going to be, and who and what suffers most? Whatever side you believe, don't stop asking the questions of both labor and management. It's never as simple as a sound bite, however catchy a sound bite may sound, however simple the politician paints the picture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-83280503648337460022010-10-06T10:00:31.061-07:002010-10-06T10:00:31.061-07:00_All praise the bottom line on both sides.
Yep, y..._All praise the bottom line on both sides.<br /><br />Yep, yep, and yep. The bottom line, and the fear of simply falling below it, rules the day, labor and management alike. It's always the common denominator in all negotiations - unless you can somehow pass the buck to the government, the public sector, to pay the bill. It's always what happens anyway, corporate and labor union alike. Kick the can down the road all the way to China. They'll pay for our corporate and labor pensions and health and do our animation on top of that! They'll figure it all out for everyone! Right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-14473284390190021642010-10-06T09:55:24.414-07:002010-10-06T09:55:24.414-07:00Does anybody hear the California State Governor Ca...Does anybody hear the California State Governor Candidates showing any promise to the animation worker? It is said that we have to affect the legilatures, but what about those at the top? <br />37 days until election votes counted!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-86850715345894774932010-10-06T08:47:09.828-07:002010-10-06T08:47:09.828-07:00The power of fear, really? It's really the pai...The power of fear, really? It's really the pain of being kicked in the nads by the studios and the feeling of dispair watching the union huff and puff while walking right by. And inexperienced newbies, even TAG supports them over experienced labor as long as they get their union dues. Even if the inexperienced newbies only work on one production and never see ant benefits, hey we got their money. Inexperienced newbies are cheap and who cares about quality when we can get the niave, and heck it's all done someplace else any way. All praise the bottom line on both sides.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-33687658144728664872010-10-06T07:30:50.836-07:002010-10-06T07:30:50.836-07:00It's not interesting. It's called reality...It's not interesting. It's called reality. You either work for the conglomerate pile of money, the MPIHPP pile of money, or you try to scrape together your own pile. On top of all that, the MPIHPP pile doesn't stay solvent without the host mega-conglomerate pile performing well. <br /><br />The independent route is way more difficult, which is why so many fail. Don't knock it until you try it yourself. You quickly realize why the numbers don't add up to make it worth anyone's while to try a start-up. It's a bummer when they don't go union, but they should still be respected, applauded, for trying. By 'experienced' and 'newby' talent alike.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-46861574049283130242010-10-06T01:02:21.284-07:002010-10-06T01:02:21.284-07:00I experienced the same kind of situation in my stu...I experienced the same kind of situation in my studio.<br />Without getting in all the details, there was a disagreement between the head of the studio and the animators, so everyone was complaining at lunch time, saying that management is not beeing fair etc... Then when I decided to have a meeting to propose solutions (that of course would imply beeing ready to strike if no negociation was possible), suddenly all the previous discussions had dissapeared and no one was willing to take a stand.<br />It's not as if they each had to stand out for themselves seperately and be alone in the spotlight, we just had to take a common decision, a common action. But people don't easily understand how strong you can be once unified, and each of them is scared because they visualize each actions individually.<br /><br />The sad point is that those who are motivated to challenge management when they feel things are unfair, lose that motivation very fast when confronted with the ambiant individualisme.Toutouffehttp://www.romanim.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-68932913565777764522010-10-05T18:56:30.428-07:002010-10-05T18:56:30.428-07:00BUT FLOYD! They know that by going Union, they are...BUT FLOYD! They know that by going Union, they are getting 'experienced labor'. Why would they resort to hiring unexperienced newbies?....not because they agree with the fatcats that any ole' monkey can do it....hmmmm?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-72954686956915342742010-10-05T15:10:39.839-07:002010-10-05T15:10:39.839-07:00As an animation old timer, I've witnessed anot...As an animation old timer, I've witnessed another sad situation from my colleagues. While we labored on the drawing boards in our bull pins, they griped and complained about management and how we workers were oppressed by the fat cats.<br /><br />However, once they had their own company and tasted the big time, they totally morphed into the same ruthless jerks as their former employers.<br /><br />I found it interesting how these pro-union workers suddenly became anti-union once it suited their interests.Floyd Normanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08635960964922892254noreply@blogger.com