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Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

iatse.net

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Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#31

Post by slownews45 »

petee wrote: post #24
slownews45 wrote: post #13

I'm not super pro-union (plenty of mess there) but there really are some reasonable asks union side. My guess, folks have been NOT working the 12+ hour days, have NOT been doing the "rolling lunches" and other wild hollywood stuff (that a construction worker would think was crazy) during COVID. Might have opened their eyes to life outside of the hollywood dream machine. Maybe look for things as basic as: Mandated sto…

Most productions started up in August 2020 with strict Covid protocols; personally I've had 1 week off since then. Crews have been doing full days, with masks. Normal work under harder conditions. They finally offered 10hr turn around after we voted to strike; and its with strings. They cant even give an hour for sleep. Ive done the 14-17hr days, with 9hr turn around, and I live 1hr 20min from set, so thats 6hrs pers…

Don't worry - for those of us not in industry or industry adjacent the industry seems totally crazy - ie, we get overtime occasionally, but hollywood seems built on it

Seeing the money being thrown at SVOD by apple/netflix et al, where does it even go if not into below the line pockets? The production budgets for some of these things rival movies of the past.

Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#33

Post by petee »

KingMachiavelli wrote: post #15

Is there a list of demands compared to the current agreement? I can't find the specifics anywhere.

There is some information on IATSE's site, I'll link below. Most specifics are confidential even once the contracts are ratified; there are also two separate contracts in question.

I can say, the core of it is demanding safe work hours, the rest is important but workable. The producers are trying to reduce pay, increase health care costs, skip lunch, and while asking us to work harder, and still pretending streaming media isn't viable. IATSE has been good over the years making okay, but arguably fair contracts, but producers consistently take advantage of the situation and contract language

https://www.asa.iatse.net/ https://www.basicagreement.iatse.net/

Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#34

Post by petee »

slownews45 wrote: post #31
petee wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most productions started up in August 2020 with strict Covid protocols; personally I've had 1 week off since then. Crews have been doing full days, with masks. Normal work under harder conditions. They finally offered 10hr turn around after we voted to strike; and its with strings. They cant even give an hour for sleep. Ive done the 14-17hr days, with 9hr turn around, and I live 1hr 20min from set, so thats 6hrs pers…

Don't worry - for those of us not in industry or industry adjacent the industry seems totally crazy - ie, we get overtime occasionally, but hollywood seems built on it Seeing the money being thrown at SVOD by apple/netflix et al, where does it even go if not into below the line pockets? The production budgets for some of these things rival movies of the past.

Thats the other big issue - we helped streaming get it's feet by allowing lower pay, lower benefits, and longer hours, back in 2007-8 since streaming wasnt yet considered 'viable'. They agreed to revisit it in the future when it was viable. Now they won't even discuss it.

Extra money goes right to the companies. Actors dont get the same residuals from streaming either, just look at Scarlett Johansson's lawsuit.

Streaming contract language is based on number of subscribers, so before Disney+ launched, they made a bunch of movies under the zero-to-tiny subscribers model, essentially a low budget contract, to avoid paying normal rates, but these were full fledged films and shows.

Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#35

Post by BenjiWiebe »

oceanghost wrote: post #30
TheDudeMan wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren't there already laws that grant breaks during work? Does Hollywood not abide by those? Who polices that sort of thing? (Also not very pro-union.)

I worked at a Walmart 20 years ago that would lock employees in at night-- even when their shifts were over, in an attempt to get them to work extra hours. My first gig out of college-- the company said they didn't pay vacations or holidays for the first 6 months. I had no idea this was illegal in California, but one of the other hires did and got them in some major amount of trouble for it. They also asked me to sig…

Apparently Walmart has made some changes for the better then. I worked there for a 2ish years, right up to COVID. You'd get in trouble (and your boss too!) for working very much overtime. Also you'd get in trouble if you didn't take at least a 30 minute lunch break, and you'd get in serious trouble for working off the clock.

Walmart probably got too many lawsuits or something.

Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#36

Post by lotsofpulp »

oceanghost wrote: post #30
TheDudeMan wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren't there already laws that grant breaks during work? Does Hollywood not abide by those? Who polices that sort of thing? (Also not very pro-union.)

I worked at a Walmart 20 years ago that would lock employees in at night-- even when their shifts were over, in an attempt to get them to work extra hours. My first gig out of college-- the company said they didn't pay vacations or holidays for the first 6 months. I had no idea this was illegal in California, but one of the other hires did and got them in some major amount of trouble for it. They also asked me to sig…

I think smartphones are helping change the game a little. With instant video streaming and ease of providing proof, I predict employers will be more wary of trying to get away with nonsense like locking people in, especially big employers.

One big change that needs to happen, especially in the labor “friendly” states of CA/WA/NY/MA is modifying the all party consent recording laws to one party consent. Employers (and people in power) should be afraid their audio is being recorded so they cannot claim he said she said when they try to get away with something illegal verbally.

Edit: my list of states should be CA/WA/CT/MA. NY is already one party consent.

Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#37

Post by tessierashpool »

slownews45 wrote: post #31
petee wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most productions started up in August 2020 with strict Covid protocols; personally I've had 1 week off since then. Crews have been doing full days, with masks. Normal work under harder conditions. They finally offered 10hr turn around after we voted to strike; and its with strings. They cant even give an hour for sleep. Ive done the 14-17hr days, with 9hr turn around, and I live 1hr 20min from set, so thats 6hrs pers…

Don't worry - for those of us not in industry or industry adjacent the industry seems totally crazy - ie, we get overtime occasionally, but hollywood seems built on it Seeing the money being thrown at SVOD by apple/netflix et al, where does it even go if not into below the line pockets? The production budgets for some of these things rival movies of the past.

First, no, because big production budgets go to producers and other above the line people before the money gets anywhere near the crew. And this is true for Apple and Netflix just as it is for anyone else.

But second, also no, because streaming services are the bulk of the problem.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90683559/hollywood-is-on-the-bri...

Production schedules are more volatile than they used to be, and streaming services don't have to pay as well as normal productions, owing to an outdated contract.

Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#38

Post by oceanghost »

BenjiWiebe wrote: post #35
oceanghost wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I worked at a Walmart 20 years ago that would lock employees in at night-- even when their shifts were over, in an attempt to get them to work extra hours. My first gig out of college-- the company said they didn't pay vacations or holidays for the first 6 months. I had no idea this was illegal in California, but one of the other hires did and got them in some major amount of trouble for it. They also asked me to sig…

Apparently Walmart has made some changes for the better then. I worked there for a 2ish years, right up to COVID. You'd get in trouble (and your boss too!) for working very much overtime. Also you'd get in trouble if you didn't take at least a 30 minute lunch break, and you'd get in serious trouble for working off the clock. Walmart probably got too many lawsuits or something.

Two things happened in California (I don't know if you're in CA of course) started cracking down on employers making employees work through their breaks--and-- forcing employers to actually pay for hours worked with severe penalties.

This is why they're so strict now, at least in CA.

Then they got walloped with a lawsuit about it. I actually used the situation to my advantage. Once I realized what was going on-- I snuck out the loading dock which was never closed and took leisurely lunches. It was assumed you couldn't get out, so you hadn't. I can't have been the only Walmart rogue who realized this, but I never saw anyone else do it.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/wal-mart-a...

Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#39

Post by tessierashpool »

mchusma wrote: post #28
TheDudeMan wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren't there already laws that grant breaks during work? Does Hollywood not abide by those? Who polices that sort of thing? (Also not very pro-union.)

They have to abide by them, which is what I can't understand here. I'm in California and the laws are strict, it's easy to sue, and the companies involved (e.g. Disney) are giant. So I just can't see them getting away with violating labor laws. I assume they are looking for protection above and beyond what the law requires? I can't find the actual demands anywhere. The website and links are all basically propaganda l…

> I just can't see them getting away with violating labor laws

tell me you have never in your working life gone anywhere near the entertainment industry without telling me you have never in your working life gone anywhere near the entertainment industry.

Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#40

Post by petee »

Aerroon wrote: post #27
petee wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Every job in film is highly specialized, even down to construction. These are trades that are taught and passed down through years of on the job experience. It would take them years to replace every department. We do it well, fast, and safe.

But what would happen if they decide to move countries over this? Hollywood and other movie and TV production is obviously a powerful tool to sway the public. I bet there are some other countries itching to have their own media production improve. Eg the people putting money into these productions could take their money to China instead, no? The strike does seem reasonable to me though.

It happens, but at the end of the day only America looks like America, and they want that look as much as patrons demand it.

Shows used to go to Canada until our tax breaks got better. Some things will always shoot here. Many projects are also tied to the whim or contract of the a big name star.

Once they get digital movies down pat, they'll likely eliminate all our jobs as fast as possible. Which is why we are slowly unionizing VFX workers!

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