#26
Posted: 10/15/07 at 12:03am
The negative media though doesn't surprise me one bit. Considering who owns the New York Times now and how the Media has run fairly lockstep in favor of Corporations. Of course they would, they are all owned by Corporations.
My information comes from the being a Union Member and my Ex is still a member of the Electricians Union. My adopted Dad was a Union Chemist who had to live through a three month ugly strike against Shell Oil.
I never said they have hired temporary workers, though it has also been mentioned in articles about the strike, it can be done. They may never have done this on Broadway but you have never endured a very long strike. I am sure though that there is a good amount of non-Union Electricians out there who need a job thanks to our wonderful out-sourcing of jobs, here in America. They may not be uniquely qualified to do the required work but they probably can get by. Would I want this to happen? No. The Producers will pay very big money to hire these people if a long strike takes place. Both of my family members endured this practice and it happens all of the time with our Retail Unions out here in California.
No one is above ever being replaced. It happens on Broadway all of the time, especially among Actors. The question here is, is it in the best interest of the Companies to do so and can they really get away with it without angering the General Public? Neither side can answer that questions well. Though I would hope it wouldn't be stood for. Considering how many Americans hold Union jobs in this Country. Even those who don't owe a certain level of respect for those who are willing to labor hard to give us the things that we need.
It is obvious the Producers know they can get the work done cheaper. They will sacrifice efficiency over experience if they can get away with it. We know that a well qualified Electrician will take a hike the minute they find a better paying job also. So in the long run, the Producers are just being stupid. They know what they have works and has been profitable for everyone. Investors need to do more research if they continue to invest in mere flops. Making the Stagehands pay for their incompetence is a weak move from cowards.
The determining factor and why it probably has never come to replacements of techs on Broadway is the unity between Actors, Musicians and Stagehands. If they stand together, as they should, then yes, the strike will be short lived and hopefully negotiated quickly. So far, I have read that this is the case and I hope it stands. I don't want anyone to lose a paycheck but I don't want to see more Union Busting going on because too much power has shifted in the opposite direction already.
My information comes from the being a Union Member and my Ex is still a member of the Electricians Union. My adopted Dad was a Union Chemist who had to live through a three month ugly strike against Shell Oil.
I never said they have hired temporary workers, though it has also been mentioned in articles about the strike, it can be done. They may never have done this on Broadway but you have never endured a very long strike. I am sure though that there is a good amount of non-Union Electricians out there who need a job thanks to our wonderful out-sourcing of jobs, here in America. They may not be uniquely qualified to do the required work but they probably can get by. Would I want this to happen? No. The Producers will pay very big money to hire these people if a long strike takes place. Both of my family members endured this practice and it happens all of the time with our Retail Unions out here in California.
No one is above ever being replaced. It happens on Broadway all of the time, especially among Actors. The question here is, is it in the best interest of the Companies to do so and can they really get away with it without angering the General Public? Neither side can answer that questions well. Though I would hope it wouldn't be stood for. Considering how many Americans hold Union jobs in this Country. Even those who don't owe a certain level of respect for those who are willing to labor hard to give us the things that we need.
It is obvious the Producers know they can get the work done cheaper. They will sacrifice efficiency over experience if they can get away with it. We know that a well qualified Electrician will take a hike the minute they find a better paying job also. So in the long run, the Producers are just being stupid. They know what they have works and has been profitable for everyone. Investors need to do more research if they continue to invest in mere flops. Making the Stagehands pay for their incompetence is a weak move from cowards.
The determining factor and why it probably has never come to replacements of techs on Broadway is the unity between Actors, Musicians and Stagehands. If they stand together, as they should, then yes, the strike will be short lived and hopefully negotiated quickly. So far, I have read that this is the case and I hope it stands. I don't want anyone to lose a paycheck but I don't want to see more Union Busting going on because too much power has shifted in the opposite direction already.
