The Strike: Fire them!- Page 2

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 2:53pm

F*ck off CRJ!!! I can bitch if I want too!! You'd be pissed if you were in my situation!! I am a "fan" but I also was going to support a good friend in a show..... Go pucker your lips at someone else!

[misschung]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 2:57pm

their work does not put asses in the seats

no, but an ill-trained person could put Julia Murney's ass in the lap of an audience member if they didn't know how to operate that damned cherry picker.

if they're fired, who is going to replace them? The same person applying for work at McDonald's?

Updated On: 11/13/07 at 02:57 PM

[CJR]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 2:58pm

No, I wouldn't be pissed. Disappointed, maybe. Not pissed. I understand why Local One is on strike and I support their decision 110%.

I have had tickets, in the past, to see friends in shows and have other things come up, making it impossible for me to see the show. Things beyond my control..... but I've never been pissed about it.

And if you can "bitch if you want too", please learn the proper use of to, too and two.

Bitch to someone who gives a sh!t.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 2:59pm

I'm There are plenty of qualified tech/crew people in NY that could use a job!

[CJR]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 3:02pm

You're right. And they're on strike because they have been operating without a contract for months (amongst other reasons).

Do you have any idea how long it would teach a whole new crew the moment by moment movements of each show? Especially a technically intricate show such as Wicked?

Before you go making snap judgments about how easy it is to replace all the stagehands (who have difficult jobs but make them look easy), you might want to do a little more research.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 3:04pm

No, I wouldn't be pissed. Disappointed, maybe. Not pissed. I understand why Local One is on strike and I support their decision 110%.

"I have had tickets, in the past, to see friends in shows and have other things come up, making it impossible for me to see the show. Things beyond my control..... but I've never been pissed about it.

And if you can "bitch if you want too", please learn the proper use of to, too and two.

Bitch to someone who gives a sh!t. "


Ummmmmm.... I'm pretty sure the title of this thread was The Strike: fire them!!!! I think you're in the wrong thread
honey. Stop starting Sh*t for no reason!

[CJR]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 3:06pm

Just the pure and simple fact that anyone is uninformed enough to say that those on strike should be fired is absolutely sickening.

Be a little more educated on the issue before posting about it.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 3:16pm

Im glad it's sickening to you! I wasn't trying to please anyone... just sharing my opinion!

[CJR]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 3:22pm

I think you miss the point all together.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 3:29pm

I get your point.... I just think it's BS!

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 3:29pm

I get your point.... I just think it's BS!

[leko2]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 3:35pm

And again, this is a unfair labor practice strike action which is protected by the National Labor Relations Act, or Wagner Act, which is a federal law that dates back to 1935 that protects the rights of most workers in the private sector to organize labor unions, to engage in collective bargaining, and to take part in strikes and other forms of concerted activity in support of their demands.

FAA workers who were involved in the Air Traffic Controllers strike of 1981 were fired and banned from federal service because they violated the Railway Labor Act which is a federal passed in 1926 and amended in 1936 to include airlines.

JohnnyBoy, I'm sorry for your friend that you only care enough about them to plan a trip and see them when they're in a show.

There are plenty of qualified non-union "tech/crew" people in New York. I can think of probably 30 people of the top of my head that currently are on strike with the shows that they work for. But that makes me wonder, when you said that the union should be fired, did you mean just union members or did you mean anyone working under a union contract?

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 3:46pm

I was talking about the stagehands that are working under the union!

btw....... why am I am bad friend when I have planned a trip to see him in his new show?? I would consider someone who flies out from Cali to see my show a good friend!

[BroadwayPenguin2]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 4:18pm

The other local IATSE members who work with tours in other cities learn how to work the show in one day. Any show that has toured. Wicked, Mamma Mia, Drowsy, etc.

PLUS they have to do Load in and Load out.

Learning the full show isn't a huge problem.

On the other hand, I don't think other chapters of IATSE Cwill step into NYC and take the jobs, but I'm sure, like someone said, there are a ton of non-union stage hands who would probably love to work on Broadway.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 4:27pm

"The other local IATSE members who work with tours in other cities learn how to work the show in one day. Any show that has toured. Wicked, Mamma Mia, Drowsy, etc.

PLUS they have to do Load in and Load out.

Learning the full show isn't a huge problem.

On the other hand, I don't think other chapters of IATSE Cwill step into NYC and take the jobs, but I'm sure, like someone said, there are a ton of non-union stage hands who would probably love to work on Broadway."

With the production crew which travels with the show overseeing them all and standing by in case any thing goes wrong. It would be a lot different to bring in a new crew into Broadway house, and tell them to go for it, without having anyone around who knew the show telling them what to do.

[roadguy]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 4:36pm

Broadway Penguin,
I tour with Broadway Musicals for a living.. I'm part of a 23 person crew that TRAVELS FULL TIME WITH THE SHOW.. We are there to train a local crew of about 35 people to run the show. IATSE stagehands are skilled enough to know when i say I need a specific task completed they complete it, if they have a question they ask me. We rehearse many portions of the show along with a full dress rehearsal in every city BEFORE the audience even steps foot into the theatre.

You're telling me that's the same as asking a green crew to walk into a show and run it without having cue cards, other people there to direct and answer questions??

I don't know why I even bother..



"The other local IATSE members who work with tours in other cities learn how to work the show in one day. Any show that has toured. Wicked, Mamma Mia, Drowsy, etc.

PLUS they have to do Load in and Load out.

Learning the full show isn't a huge problem.

[badkarma719]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 4:43pm

Someone said it earlier on this thread, you need to be better ejamacated before you start posting your complaints about you life sized problems over something that is out of your control, Johny plan your trip at a later date, or instead of just seeing your friends show, spend some time with them instead hanging out around the city. I have a few friends that work on broadway and would love to have a chance to spend time with them when I come up but because of their theatre schedule and my things to do list it never happens like we want.

I totally support the strike, because I think that the producers have literally pulled figures from their asses, and do some research before you say something that you end up putting your foot in your mouth. here's an idea, go to google.com and search stagehand strike or go to the IATSE website and read their side, then read the producers side (the site is livebroadway.com I think)

and the reason they cant bring in anyone to take over the positions that are on strike is because 1 the number is so large they cant find that many techs to fill the spots, 2 those that are not under union contracts but under pink slips are striking with the union, as well as the actors, musicians, whoever else are standing in support of the strike, why don't you whining fans just shut your mouths and get on with life and think that maybe the little guys are tired of being steeped on by a multi billion dollar industry

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 4:56pm

It's a little difficult when your broke and have saved and saved for this non-refundable trip. I'm not asking for your opinion or sympathy! Do I know all the details on the strike.... NO.... but do I really care .... NO!! I' know there are plenty of other things to do while I'm in the city .I just really wanted to be able to see some shows while I was in NY.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 4:57pm

My time machine worked. It's the early 20th century!

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 5:04pm

That's right monkeys, get up on that stage and dance I tell you! Why, I'd swear I hear the Master calling for you to come up and entertain him right now!

Go back rent the Movie, Roots, it will at least remind you of the good 'ol days you seem to be missing, Hoss!


The point being too, I wouldn't support a scab crew either way. This isn't about wages but crew limits and safety. Something everyone who works on or a near the stage should care about.

Jonny is just in it for himself. Plenty of people who are just fans who have no respect for those working on the shows for their skills and giving us so many flawless performances.

As to even having the gall to bring up the Air Traffic Controllers Strike.

Anyone who travels and is educated knows how bad air traffic has become. How dangerous it is because those in the towers also are overworked. It isn't even about money, it is about making the job so dangerous and unattractive that so few people are willing to train and be worked to death for any job.

It seems we still have a society of disgruntled slavers out there who still can't get over the fact, they lost the War and Slavery or forcing people to shorten their lives for the benefit and profits of others is just not suppose the be the American way.

Again, 9-11 anyone? Who shredded the documents in the Control Tower? Could have been the very Govt. that allowed the Bin Laden family to fly out of our Country on 9-12? Yes, it is so wonderful to have a corrupt Govt. in charge of our skyways. Have a nice trip.

It is very sad to keep hearing from people who care so little about the Entertainers and Technicians who make these shows possible. We are really fighting against becoming a completely plastic world where no one sees reality ever anymore.

Good luck everyone. I want the contracts to be fair. Hopefully we will see both sides bargaining in good faith very soon. I don't want anyone whose work I dearly appreciate, kept from doing work I know most of them love and I enjoy watching when I can.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 5:57pm

"I don't know why I even bother.."

You bother because you want to give people with absolutely no concept of what it takes to run a show, some insight. Unfortunately most of it goes in one ear and out the other without firing a single synapse.

Updated On: 11/13/07 at 05:57 PM

[localonecrew]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 9:29pm

jonnyboy,

i understand your complaints and see how you would reach the conclusion that we should all be fired. instead of wasting your opinion on an anonymous message board you should take your message out to the people who most need to hear it. c'mon out to the picket line and share your opinion. you might change some minds and shame us into going back to work.
i know that you wouldnt be afraid to do that because you have the strength of your convictions and the power of the knowledge that you are the voice of reason and should be heard by those that need to hear your message.
c'mon out and change our minds with your superior reasoning and intellect.
it will be fun!

[leko2]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 11:59pm

I'm sure you can find enough stagehands in the greater new york area that are not in the union that could run the shows. But regardless of the "learning how to run the show" factor, all the unions support this strike and none of their members are going to go back to work until the Local One stagehands do.

As for outside locals working on these productions. A pink slip is the thing that you get when you're laid off a pink contract is the paper that allows for union members not on the Local One payroll to work on productions in the venue. everyone on strike is on a contract in some fashion. The reason that other IATSE members are on strike is that they are answering an "Official Road Call" that Local One has put out. At this point any member who has been properly presented with the official road call can and will be expelled from the union for crossing the line and entering the building unless otherwise sanctioned by the alliance. So, for those of you playing along at home, a representative from Local One basically shows up and goes, "Brothers and Sisters, I have here a copy of the Official Road Call. Please sign it so that we can forward it to the General Office and make sure that you are compensated for this action." If they say, "No, we're going to work," and they have not received prior authorization from the International to do so, they are subject to expulsion from the union the second they cross the line, no questions asked.

[don logan]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 12:09am

YEAH fire them!! FIRE THE PRODUCERS!!!

[nycdncr]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 1:02am

if jonny boy really wants to see some shows, maybe he should check out the plethora of off-broadway shows that are still running. just because broadway is dark, doesn't mean there isn't any theatre left in the city.

for anyone who doesn't understand what it's like to make a living in the business, try it for a few months, then get back to us when you see how much money producers make and how little of that gets shared with the people who actually do the work to make the show happen....actors, stagehands, wardrobe, hair, etc. then you might understand that this 'glamorous' life in the theater ain't so glamorous afterall. the stagehands are fighting for their livelihood. just like the musicians did, and just like the actors will when the production contract is negotiated again next year. people tend to forget it's called show BUSINESS! it's not 'let's put on a show in grandpa's barn.' check the cost of living in NYC, then take into account that broadway is the highest level a person in musical theatre can go. for someone working in the top of their field, the money isn't all that grand.