tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post4669782641003052524..comments2024-03-26T22:42:06.412-07:00Comments on TAG Blog: MSM Catches On To FreelancersSteve Huletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537689111433326847noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-55641979721420331722010-04-08T05:09:41.834-07:002010-04-08T05:09:41.834-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15840418468573217654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-65663950789620391402010-04-07T18:42:54.602-07:002010-04-07T18:42:54.602-07:00http://www.animationguild.org/answers.htmhttp://www.animationguild.org/answers.htmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-26140301550340164912010-04-07T12:53:19.492-07:002010-04-07T12:53:19.492-07:00How does someone go about joining a union or guild...How does someone go about joining a union or guild, is it dependent on your location?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-87523341157739176122010-04-05T01:41:58.801-07:002010-04-05T01:41:58.801-07:00To blogger 4:46 PM,
<>
I followed your lin...To blogger 4:46 PM,<br /><br /><><br /><br />I followed your link to the VFX blog and saw the Red-baiting you referred to. <br /><br />My impression: These blogs are basically coming from a single individual pretending to be several people, hardly "most" of them. Obviously, this deception worked on you. Actually most of the bloggers seemed to agree on the urgency of organizing. <br /><br />No sane, intelligent person has seriously equated unionism with Communism since the 1930s. That's what indicates to me that this blogger is a ringer. He is either a corporate shill or a small studio owner tossing a "red herring" (pun intended), trying to throw a monkey wrench into the discussion. Either that, or he's just a general troll provoking just for the fun of it. <br /><br />Don't be discouraged-sign the cards!Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07465186818795898736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-45388877478319916052010-04-04T22:37:02.310-07:002010-04-04T22:37:02.310-07:00Unionizing is not difficult. In theory. Under th...Unionizing is not difficult. In theory. Under the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board.)<br /><br />In real-time, real life, it can be difficult. But when a tipping point is reached (i.e., employees are pushed to the edge), it can be remarkably simple. And speedy.<br /><br />Employers usually run an anti-union campaign that includes group meetings, veiled threats of closing if workers vote to "go union," one-on-ones with key employees, layoffs of perceived "trouble makers." (This can mostly be avoided if the "trouble maker" puts the company on notice that he/she is actively working to unionize the place, because this deprives the company of plausible deniability that it knew the person was participating in a "protected activity" (unionizing.) <br /><br /> Labor attorneys with their salt will tell the company to leave the person in place to avoid a labor board charge and/or lawsuit.<br /><br />Doesn't mean the trouble maker won't be let go at some future date when lots of others are laid off, but it protects people short-term.Steve Huletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537689111433326847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-50427927843829407192010-04-04T19:16:35.062-07:002010-04-04T19:16:35.062-07:00to anonymous@6:09:00 PM: You responded to my post ...to anonymous@6:09:00 PM: You responded to my post and I totally agree with you. I read this blog because I worked at a union shop for about 6 months. After that, I got a job at a place that didn't offer insurance but I was covered for quite awhile because of the coverage I earned while at the union shop. I'm now back at the big vfx shop so I have coverage now but with all the money I'm putting into the plan, as soon as I leave, I lose it (unless I continue to pay for COBRA). I would be a big fan of both health and retirement packages following me from job to job. My comment was merely a practical concern. Steve reported awhile ago the number of cards he'd gotten from a facility and there were hundreds that didn't count anymore because the people had been laid off from that facility.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-84500230497096554692010-04-04T18:09:03.827-07:002010-04-04T18:09:03.827-07:00With regard to people not wanting to go union, I t...<b><i>With regard to people not wanting to go union, I think the biggest problem with how the union system works now is that people are no longer at a facility long enough for their cards to count.</i></b><br /><br />I understand that gigs are getting shorter but the union does a better job accommodating workers for that than the facilities. The condition is worse for short term artists who are not in the union and let me show you why personally:<br /><br />I worked 2 years at a big vfx house and was let go. I lost my health insurance after one month and lost 75% of the 401k match the company gave me.<br /><br />I then worked 2 years for a big company with the animation guild. For unrelated reasons I recently quit my job. I get to continue having the union health insurance for another 17 months! I'm also fully vested in the Individual Account Plan which is at $12,000.<br /><br />The crazy thing is most of these benefits kick in after 450 hours of work which was 9 weeks for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-39318247687280218582010-04-04T17:42:00.126-07:002010-04-04T17:42:00.126-07:00to Anonymous @10:16:00 AM, thank you for the IRS l...to Anonymous @10:16:00 AM, thank you for the IRS link. I checked it out and aside from the fact that I was hired to work on a particular show, there seems no reason to me why I would be classified as an independent contractor. Interesting. I'll have to look into it. Thanks again!<br /><br />With regard to people not wanting to go union, I think the biggest problem with how the union system works now is that people are no longer at a facility long enough for their cards to count.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-82532035302109375912010-04-04T16:46:04.363-07:002010-04-04T16:46:04.363-07:00To the post above,
Read this thread at cgtalk:
h...To the post above,<br /><br />Read this thread at cgtalk:<br /><br />http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=2&t=863912<br /><br />The mere discussion of a proposal to unionize vfx workers brings reactions of "unions are like communism".<br /><br />The VES had a townhall meeting about the problems in the vfx industry and one of the proposals was unionization.<br /><br />Time and time again I've heard artists complain about the amount they pay in union dues but when I point out they get double to triple the return in their IAP retirement account they ignore that. Why? It's because of pure ideology.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-51586947500883521772010-04-04T16:08:23.587-07:002010-04-04T16:08:23.587-07:00"Most people in the industry hate unions on p..."Most people in the industry hate unions on purely ideological grounds..."<br /><br />That's quite a statement. You have this on what authority? Citations, please.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-75518337399336873392010-04-04T13:11:16.813-07:002010-04-04T13:11:16.813-07:00But what can we do? Most people in the industry ha...<i> But what can we do? Most people in the industry hate unions on purely ideological grounds and if we speak up and make these vfx houses even more unprofittable we will only be forced to work at a vfx sweatshop in Europe, Canada, and new Zealand.</i><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If it's so easy to set up shop overseas, these scumbag companies would already be doing it. <br /><br />Ever notice how many of these small vfx studios insist on staffing with young, bright, eager just-graduated-from-college kids? That isn't an accident. It's easier to exploit the young'uns because they want to make a good impression and build their portfolio, nevermind the shitty pay, the lack of health insurance, and the stupidly long hours that they don't get paid for. They usually don't realize until they hit their 30's that they've done no one any favors by working for free, especially themselves.<br /><br />You want things to change? It goes back to artists having enough self-respect and support for themselves and each other to say, "Wait a minute, you want me to work here but be paid as a freelancer? ISN'T THAT ILLEGAL?" Same thing with falsifying timecards when one is actually an employee. <br /><br />Open communication amongst artists will help, as well as follow-through. The studios will take advantage of artists every way possible unless the artists themselves finally say that they've had enough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-17041942385714888282010-04-04T12:18:33.811-07:002010-04-04T12:18:33.811-07:00Hydraulx visual effects in Santa Monica brings a l...Hydraulx visual effects in Santa Monica brings a lot of workers in at 1099. I worked there a while ago and it was the first time I heard of 1099. I had no idea it was illegal. They also paid ot only after 50 hours of work and only paid you after 30 days upon invoice. I eventually got paid after I left... 2 months later. But what can we do? Most people in the industry hate unions on purely ideological grounds and if we speak up and make these vfx houses even more unprofittable we will only be forced to work at a vfx sweatshop in Europe, Canada, and new Zealand.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-44467257380619583412010-04-04T11:54:18.920-07:002010-04-04T11:54:18.920-07:00Others I have heard have actually made far more mo...<i>Others I have heard have actually made far more money as an independent</i><br /><br />Like I said before, independent contractors working short term used to be paid <i>much</i> better than salaried employees, to make up for the lack of benefits and the short-term nature of the work. Now companies are trying to make everyone 1099, and pay the lower pay rate at the same time. It is destroying the work force, and is accelerating.<br /><br />There are definitely a small group of true independent contractors who come in, do very high level work, get paid a premium, and move on. Enforcing labor law won't affect them in the slightest. But in 2010, most people being forced to work on 1099's don't fit that 'high-pay, true independent contractor' profile.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-30026618795062892352010-04-04T10:35:20.104-07:002010-04-04T10:35:20.104-07:00More and more artists are doing the 1099 thing. E...More and more artists are doing the 1099 thing. Either because that is the only option for some projects or that is the way they want it. it really depends on the individual, some would rather not have their taxes taken out by the company so they can do it through their own entity due to several reasons. Others I have heard have actually made far more money as an independent and wish to keep it that way. Then of course the other side is to be full time. The problem with the latter is that projects don't seem to last as long as they use to and you have to hit the reset button at the end of every show. So I think it goes back to the individual and whats best for them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-23253242813220963712010-04-04T10:25:25.829-07:002010-04-04T10:25:25.829-07:00I forgot the best part of the last post: the compa...I forgot the best part of the last post: the company you worked for then becomes responsible for the extra taxes, not you. They are stuck with penalties and interest. AND they are also audited to see which other employees have been misclassified.<br /><br />The more animators that flex their tax rights, the clearer the message is to companies: if you cheat and try to pass on costs of employment taxes to your "Independent Contractors", then you will pay the IRS penalty price later.<br /><br />btw, this works with EDD too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-55312741678310115002010-04-04T10:16:22.274-07:002010-04-04T10:16:22.274-07:00To the 1099 person:
You can report the company to...To the 1099 person:<br /><br />You can report the company to the IRS and you will not be responsible for the extra tax burden.<br /><br />It takes a few hours of your time and you can save thousands of dollars of tax liability. <br /><br />Here is the IRS link with the 20 Factor Test. If you fail one or more of these tests, you may be misclassified as an independent contractor. http://www.irs.gov/publications/p15a/ar02.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-42451991118128308402010-04-04T07:12:32.095-07:002010-04-04T07:12:32.095-07:00I'm dealing with this issue right now as I'...I'm dealing with this issue right now as I'm doing my taxes for 2009. I worked for a month at a company that doesn't have any artists on staff. I got a 1099-misc from them. I worked in their office, on their equipment, overseen by a manager, on their daily schedule. So the only benefit to me in being classified as a contractor is being able to write off my expenses. But what can I write off in this situation? I've learned my lesson. I won't work for a company like this again. Oh, and as far as the industry going towards freelancers,,,, aside from DW's contracts, almost every place is run of picture (even if it's not spelled out). Show's over, thanks for your time. We'll call you when we need you. And with ever decreasing production timelines (aka: crunch time) has become the standard work environment. So we end up going from studio to studio, show to show, walking in the door almost immediately to "we're in a push. We've only got 4-5-6 months left. We're on 10s (or 12s) and we'll be starting Saturdays soon." Quite frankly, it sucks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-62213190863316629342010-04-04T02:39:55.686-07:002010-04-04T02:39:55.686-07:00It's clearly time for more dynamic remedies. F...It's clearly time for more dynamic remedies. First, the government has to close the tax vacation companies get for sending work overseas. If the other countries want to compete with lower salaries, that's one thing, but salaries AND taxes breaks? No way. That's something we can do something about.<br /><br />The next thing we have to do is reclaim our right to strike from the IA, which they had no right, morally if not legally, to take away. Then we strike every signatory studio laundering their labor through boutique studios or hiring in-house full time freelancers, even if they are nominally classified as "independent contractors." <br /><br />If there are no actual hard consequences for those dishonest and destructive practices, they will never stop.Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07465186818795898736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-55048121728355668742010-04-03T23:27:49.445-07:002010-04-03T23:27:49.445-07:00I still have to ask because I dont know a answer.....I still have to ask because I dont know a answer...If you work at a studio that is illegally mis-clasifying you as a independent contractor...who do you report it to? <br /><br />Can you report it to to anyone when you dont take the job. I interviewed at a place where I was told I would not get paid OT and would be still classified as a w-2 (which makes no legal sense) and other places outright say you'll be w-9 independent contractor.<br /><br />Who would/could I call or write to get the company to stop?<br /><br />And please, no "well dont take the job comments" There has got to be an official mechanism to report these companies no?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-58665566822563848462010-04-03T21:26:15.812-07:002010-04-03T21:26:15.812-07:00... If they are working at the company's place...<b>... If they are working at the company's place using their equipment and the supervisor is standing there offering comments, then the company is in violation of state and federal labor laws. </b><br /><br />Yeah, but many still get labelled "indpendent contractors." Saves the company money.Steve Huletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537689111433326847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-81411545051031039112010-04-03T21:20:19.114-07:002010-04-03T21:20:19.114-07:00Here's part of one of the deleted posts (clean...Here's part of one of the deleted posts (cleaned up a little.)<br /><br /><b> ...here's how the people really feel about the health care bill, from various polling organizatons: "So, what do the latest polls say about Michael, Matt and Elrod’s confidence? At the very, very least, the message is “Hold on just a second.” Whereas the first Gallup poll showed a 49-40 margin in favor of the bill’s passage, Gallup’s next poll showed the public disapproving of the bill by a margin of 50-47 (or -3). A new survey from ABC and the Washington Post put the margin at 50-46 (-4), with CBS reporting the same differential, 46-42 (-4), while Quinnipiac registered the strongest disapproval, at 49-40 (-9).:" Here's the link ...: http://themoderatevoice.com/67988/public-still-against-healthcare-bill/. And Real Clear Politics.com has figures that are even more damning - 52-41 against: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/obama_and_democrats_health_care_plan-1130.html Read it and weep ...- although I'd save a few tears for the midterm elections...</b><br /><br />Like I say, we'll get to the mid-term elections in due course. And life will go on.Steve Huletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537689111433326847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-28001265524639024802010-04-03T21:13:33.491-07:002010-04-03T21:13:33.491-07:00I've deleted various comments up above that go...I've deleted various comments up above that got too far from the topic at hand.<br /><br />Let's not refight the the '08 elections, okay?<br /><br />And sometime in October, I can launch a thread about the upcoming Fall elections. But in the meantime, the topic is "Freelance workers."Steve Huletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537689111433326847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-48530803499250501622010-04-03T21:09:53.081-07:002010-04-03T21:09:53.081-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-38424534243781853752010-04-03T21:07:07.389-07:002010-04-03T21:07:07.389-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-54617298513033087592010-04-03T20:58:18.162-07:002010-04-03T20:58:18.162-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com