IATSE_4th2017_web

DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS
If a production said, “Hey, I know you’ve got a union contract,
but this week we don’t have the money, so can you donate
your time and work for free?”, it would be met with a
resounding “NO!” However, there are far too many of us who
work for free on practically every union job – an hour or two at
the end of a day, on weekends, on our days off - and we don’t
report it to the production or our Locals.
So many of us feel pressured to give “a little extra” or “it’s
expected in my job.” Does this freelancing stress sound familiar?
It is illegal for an employer to ask someone to work for
free, but we often do it without being asked, and then it becomes
part of what’s silently expected to “get the job done.”
Unpaid work inadvertently undermines the contracts we work
under.
Additionally, not only does your paycheck suffer, but
there’s another damaging factor that few contemplate. Hundreds
of thousands of hours and days of benefits aren’t being
contributed to the health plans when we don’t claim all the
work we perform. Working off the clock robs our benefit plans,
including pension, of money that should be contributed by the
Employers to keep the Plans solvent, healthy, and provide for
our retirement.
Now that this culture has been created, how do we break
this habit? And still get hired for the next job?
First, we need to be aware it’s happening and is not “normal”
or “unavoidable.” Call your Business Agent if you don’t
know how to handle this issue with a production; your BA’s
are there to advocate for you and find ways to resolve contract
violations (and working for free is not allowed either by federal
law or by our contracts).
Your labor has meaning and value. Don’t train productions
to expect you to donate your valuable skills and time without
compensation. If we all speak with one voice, we can avoid
this slippery slope of unpaid work.
IATSE SUPPORTS THE ACTORS FUND’S CHAIRMAN’S COUNCIL
On December 5th, The Actors Fund kicked off the Chairman’s Council with a dinner at the 21 Club in New York City.
The Fund is organizing The Chairman’s Council as a platform for keeping former Trustees and Gala honorees engaged and
involved in the Fund’s work. Among the guests was Major League Baseball Hall of Fame player, manager and leader, Joe Torre.
Mr. Torre talked about the leadership lessons he’s learned in baseball, and in life, based on his 50+ year career, much of it in
the white hot spotlight of New York.
From left to right,
Joe Torre, his wife
Alice (Ali) Wolterman,
President Loeb and
Mandie DeMeskey,
Senior Shop Steward
of Local 52.
PHOTO CREDIT: JAY BRADY
MOTION PICTURE & TELEVISION PRODUCTION
FOURTH QUARTER 2017 43