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MOTION PICTURE & TELEVISION PRODUCTION<br />

Organizing: Behind the Scenes<br />

T<br />

his past October, Mustang, a five million dollar independent feature shooting in Carson City,<br />

Nevada, was successfully organized and its crew went from sub-standard working conditions<br />

and zero benefits to receiving, among many other improved working conditions, idle day pay,<br />

better double and even triple overtime, 10 hour daily and weekend turnaround, healthy meal penalties,<br />

and full benefits.<br />

WWW.<strong>IATSE</strong>.NET<br />

These stories happen every month<br />

around the country, with movies, reality<br />

shows, commercials, new media<br />

projects, music videos and other types<br />

of entertainment coming under contract.<br />

Sometimes a strike is necessary,<br />

as was the case on Mustang, but oftentimes<br />

just a phone call to production is<br />

enough to persuade the company to do<br />

the right thing.<br />

To organize a project, the <strong>IATSE</strong>,<br />

Locals and crew follow a standard series<br />

of steps to engineer for success. How<br />

can you help? First, your union representatives<br />

need to know that you’ve<br />

been hired on a non-union production.<br />

It’s crucial that members let their<br />

BA’s know when they’ve booked a nonunion<br />

job. The Business Agents will<br />

want to know what type of project it<br />

is, estimated budget, shooting schedule,<br />

your hourly wage, any subcontracts<br />

you’re aware of and who else has been<br />

hired. The International will be brought<br />

into the process and will coordinate<br />

with the various Locals to reach out to<br />

the crew, and consider when is best to<br />

make contact with the Producer, and in<br />

what fashion. Be aware that the identity<br />

of those who provide information is<br />

kept confidential; the Locals and IA are<br />

very sensitive about the need to protect<br />

workers anonymity.<br />

So what happens after the BA’s<br />

and <strong>IATSE</strong> representatives have spoken<br />

with the crew and it’s obvious that<br />

the vast majority want the protections<br />

and benefits of an agreement? Now is<br />

the time to fill out a union representation<br />

authorization card, which can be<br />

signed online if it’s difficult to meet<br />

face to face. Your BA can supply you<br />

with either the card in person or send<br />

you a link. With your signature, you’re<br />

agreeing to have the <strong>IATSE</strong> represent<br />

you and bargain the contract on your<br />

behalf. Collecting these cards is part of<br />

the process related to organizing in the<br />

United States. Signing and returning an<br />

authorization card is part of your duty<br />

as a union member.<br />

Once we have established that we<br />

represent the crew, the <strong>IATSE</strong> will most<br />

often call production. The Locals and<br />

IA will be ready to arrive on set if the<br />

company does not agree to negotiate<br />

a contract including all the <strong>IATSE</strong><br />

covered crafts. If a strike is necessary<br />

to “motivate” the producers, it is very<br />

important to honor the picket line, and<br />

follow the lead of your Business Agent<br />

and International representatives. Continuing<br />

to work during a strike may<br />

lead to discipline, fines or expulsion<br />

from the Union. Our strength is in our<br />

resolve to stand together and withhold<br />

our skills from unscrupulous employers.<br />

When we fight as one, we win, but<br />

if you cross a picket line, you are undermining<br />

your co-workers and weakening<br />

the power of the Union to negotiate a<br />

strong agreement.<br />

When production agrees to negotiate,<br />

the <strong>IATSE</strong> and Local representatives<br />

will sit down with the company. During<br />

negotiations the parties bargain over<br />

the details of the contract.<br />

Once a deal is reached, and the<br />

crew is briefed on the details, it’s back<br />

to work! Not only have you helped provide<br />

more benefits and money for yourself,<br />

you’ve sent a strong message to the<br />

Industry: this is a union business and<br />

non-union projects will not be allowed<br />

to proliferate.<br />

Vigilant, ongoing organizing is the<br />

lifeblood of a healthy union, healthy<br />

industry, and healthy workers. Report<br />

your non-union work!<br />

42 OFFICIAL BULLETIN

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