Questions for Local One members — Page 2

"I didn't say I would provide either type of sandwich. The costs would be too high either way."

You didn't say it, but you did infer it. Much in the same way your inferring that because you haven't been provided a list of the issues for your validation, that the issues don't exist. Of course you can believe that, but it doesn't make it so.

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tenacious
Most of your answers can be found here:
Local One Press Conference. YouTube
Judge for yourself;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEk7nngVr_c

There are seven parts total. Enjoy!

FYI- my email to the League:

As a retired theatre professional and past Union member I want to write this email in support of your efforts.

For a long time I believed that many of the unions were getting “too full of themselves” with their ridiculous rules and demands. I am also a firm believer that the unions are slowly killing Broadway. It is hugely due to their archaic rules that the costs of mounting a production (especially a musical) on Broadway is so exorbitant. Thus, making for outrageously high ticket prices, thus making seeing a Broadway show unobtainable for many.

I am in strong support of your offer and ask that you stand your ground on these issues. The sad thing is by doing so this strike may go on for a very long time and, unfortunately, some shows may be forced to close. However, it is important that the Stage Hands Union (as well as other unions) finally realize that this is a different world and that it is time to change their archaic rules. Eventually, actors will get tired of the “lower strike pay”, as well as the musicians, etc. Eventually those unions will start putting pressure on Local One. But, only if the league stands their ground with this, does not bend and is in it for the long hall.

I support the Leagues efforts and hope that you continue to stand for what’s right, without compromise.

All the best and “break-a-leg” with this.

"Hahaha You know me, robbiej, I like to state the obvious. You know, when Im taking a break from being the resident bitch lol"


Don't flatter yourself CJR........

Jonny boy, now you're just getting annoying.

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"Jonny boy, now you're just getting annoying. "

with you... yes!!!

And, as an actor, I wanted Union work. I looked for Union work. However, if there is no Union work to be found or available, I have the right to find work someplace else. I am an actor. I trained as an actor, went to school for acting and have worked nearly 30 years as an actor. Why should I find work doing something else when I can work at what I was trained to do even if it was non-union?

The point is that I did the non-union gig (along with 8 other Equity people out of a cast of 20. All of us “scabbing” and just trying to make a living.) I received 2 phone calls from Equity, which I ignored. Once I received the letter from them telling me to stop, I forwarded it to my attorney who wrote them a letter. I never heard from them again about this situation. I continued with that show and many others (Union and Non-Union) for many years after that.

Point is, no matter what their “By-Laws” are, they CANNOT stop you from working and making a living at what you do. Sure they can threaten and bully, but cannot legally stop you.

There are plenty of other good shows to see on Broadway and Off-Broadway. So I really don't understand this Man's complaining. Unfortunately, it won't solve one of the Union's or League's problems. These are Union Shows and the Union has the right to a contract. Since those other Union's and the Corporation governing them are behind them do you honestly think it is so selfish?

As for those who want to go back to the days of slave labor, you know, "the good old days". Eventually you will pass on, fortunately and as Billy Joel wrote, "the good 'ol days weren't always good and tommorrow ain't as bad as it seems".

We are trying to move forward. You want to give up your rights to fair and honest business practices? Fine but all of this complaining is just making America look stupid. You want to struggle your whole life for nothing, fine, crawl, no one is stopping you. I don't. I want to know also that when I pay for a high priced ticket, it is those who are putting on the performance who are benefitting, since I know they don't work all of the time. If the show is great, I will pay even more. I pay everyone, from the usher to the Investor. My demand is that they all be compensated fairly. I also want people to have the chance to enjoy a long and fruitful life. That is suppose to be the American Way right? Anyone can win as long as they work hard.

Well I know these people are doing what is being asked of them. I see much better ways to save money on losses than this tactic. There have already been mentions of compromises. The Producers are just asking for too much and finally after all of these years the Stagehands said enough.

Again, these people can go into the private sector and get work. Compare their salaries to those in other Tech jobs. Techinicians in New York and California get a lot more because of the cost of living. In case any of you have been to the Grocery Store lately or the Gas Pump, you know inflation is once again out of control. Gasoline alone is at a 40% high in just a few years. That in turn has raised the prices of every durable good we have and import into this Country.

If this was about losing your Electricity or Water, heck even your Cable is safe with this Strike. If ever there was a lesson to be learned it is that buying non-refundable tickets for New York or any type of live entertainment shows is not a good idea.

So yeah, you promised your peoples that they can go see whatever. Take them to go see something just as good. If it is Jersey Boys, they are performing on the West Coast too. Same performance. New York has some of the best but all of the best aren't on strike. These people, having lived this long in life and through some of the worst disasters in History can learn to accept that things happen for a reason. Maybe what they end up seeing instead will change their lives for the better?

Again, it isn't our Strike. No matter what, you will be unhappy. Yet, you can take a bad situation and make it better or you can whine about something you have no control over. So, you have to work a little bit harder but at least you don't have to picket the streets for your right to work in fair conditions right now. Your day may come and then do you want to listen to us moan and complain?

tenaciousb: If the shows you plan on seeing failed and closed without notice and refunded your tickets, would the league have taken advantage of you? I'm sure that the WGA has a lot of valid points, but now I can't watch the Daily Show, 24, Family Guy, Eureka, Conan O'brien, The Office, and countless other shows on cable because of this. Why are they holding my primetime TV hostage? Are they taking advantage of my desire to watch TV and hoping that I, along with countless others, will call the AMPTP and urge them to concede? Writers are paid to write a movie or tv show. Why should they get money from me for buying a dvd of something that they have already written?

The league threatened to lock out employees who had been working in good faith for months under the expired contract. When that didn't make the union flinch, they implemented work rules which the union had not agreed to. When the membership wanted to immediately call a strike vote, the leadership asked them to be patient and see what happened next. Finally after making progress in negotiations for the first time in weeks, the league went 180 degrees and they took away things that they had agreed to. If these aren't good reasons for a strike action due to unfair labor practices then I don't know what is.

NJLuvsTheatre is correct. Equity cannot stop him from making a living in a right to work state. But what they can do is punish him for violating their rules for membership. I am not sure what the punishments are, but I wouldn't blink if they fined, suspended, or expelled you from the union.

Why can members of IATSE work non-union jobs? Because nowhere in the constitution and bylaws for IATSE does it say anything like, "Members are not allowed to work non-union jobs or jobs that do not have union contracts."

I am not collecting on the Equity pension nor will I. I am retired from theatre, not retire all-together... I have found another profession I enjoy and am making a living at. I do, however, continue my association with theatre working locally throughout NJ, NY and PA. Small groups, community theatre, etc. Funny, I recently did a really good community theatre production where out of a cast of 22, 6 were Equity. It happens all the time and Equity, instead of wasting energy "hunting these people down" and threatening them, should support them. And I do not mean financaily. If actors can find Non-Union work when there is no Union work available, they should be allowed to work.

We can argue this forever. Point is you don't agree. So, let's just end this. My point is that the Unions have archaic rules and things need to change.. It's a different world, a different time from when these Unions were established. It's time to change with the times.

I agree. Nothing you can do about the strike though unfortunately..

Make the best of it. Try off and off-off Broadway! Some pretty good stuff there. I'm sure you can still salvage a great trip!

My wife and I see Broadway and off-Broadway shows about evenly and enjoy both!

Mooo> If it's any concollation i blame both of ya'll :)

I do think the producers might share a BIT more just because of what you said about the lockout they proposed and some other things they did previously to strong arm.

However at this point ... the union doesn't seem to be talking.

Again .... strikes will often hurt your business.

But i am against unions in general