When can we have a card signing meeting?

Edited: 02/12/2008 at 01:35 PM by Mike

Hi Mike-

We're not going to do a massive card signing like the WGA did -- that "global" idea looks great on paper but doesn't really work in the real world.

We're going to move company by company, starting of course where there's interest and/or where there are good strategic reasons to go....

As for this fourm, it was set up to facilitate general discussion. But there is also a "private" section (access is invite-only) where we can hold discussions about specific campaigns so that the public at large can't read them.

Although this forum is a very sophisticated tool for communicating (both ways), it won't take the place of real organizing, where people who work together talk over the issues, decide that they want to see something change with that company/show, and work with MPEG to make that happen.

If people want to get something going at their comapny, they can send me a Private Message on this forum, or they can email me, or call. The email and phone are in my signature below.

-Tris

-------------------------
Tris Carpenter, National Organizer
MPEG, IATSE Local 700
323-876-4770 x244
tcarpenter@editorsguild.com

I agree with going company by company, but what is wrong with strategically targeting say 5 of the biggest companies all at once? There are LOTS and LOTS of editors I know who let their MPEG membership go into suspension simply because there is such a small percentage of union reality work. In order to change this unions power in reality there needs to be a MUCH larger percentage of shows that are union so it becomes easier to keep your benefits going.

Going company by company is fine but keep in mind that a lot of these shows never come back for another season. What's the point of organizing a show that will no longer be around once it's organized?

The union made a strategic mistake 15 years ago by ignoring reality TV and not going after reality production companies. Now a terrible precedent has been set, where most reality shows are not unionized and producers don't feel they should have to go union because it will put them at a competitive disadvantage. Compare our situation to that of scripted shows. Anytime anyone tries to go non-union on the scripted side, the IATSE hammer falls. Unfortunately, for us to now change the status quo, a lot of people are going to have to be willing to sacrifice their short-term interests for the POSSIBILITY of long-term union benefits. It is a tough sell.

The best place to start, IMHO, is with clearly exploitative companies where the employees are angry. Irwin Entertainment comes to mind, but there are many others...

Hey Tooner,

I agree, there are some places that seem to be crying out for organizing -- if you know people there, please put them in touch with me....

-------------------------
Tris Carpenter, National Organizer
MPEG, IATSE Local 700
323-876-4770 x244
tcarpenter@editorsguild.com

The idea to go company by company is much better than show by show. Get the parent production company not the shell company established for the purpose of that one show. I believe once the parent company signs, the shell companies now and in the future have to abide. Arron Spelling lost that lawsuit years ago with Melrose Place.

As to production companies needing to be competitive, when a show goes union the network is involved and usually covers the cost. I've been there. The net is still getting a cheap product. Adding union benefits to the post salary line item is not a deal breaker if they want the show.

Besides the places where people are angry, we should also go after companies that can be embarrassed. Why, for example, did Al Gore's network contact me about working non-union in San Fransisco? AL GORE?!?!?! SAN FRANSISCO??!!?? C'mon! Doesn't Tom Short have his phone number? Call the guy up and ask him to support the IA! We supported him in 2000.

Back to the Apprentice -- I know that sorry chapter is closed but -- why oh why couldn't Tom Short have talked to the NY unions that the Donald relies on in construction? It just seems like a no-brainer, especially given the fact that Short works in NY and has the right connections out there.

Oh yeah, and MTV. Could we please try to get MTV? A simultaneous east/west coast hit...?

Actually, the IA did work on this quite a bit in New York and put some pressure on Trump and Lincoln Center when the finale was shot. The finale shooting crew (different from the show-to-show shooting crew) was provided by a union subcontractor. But the show-to-show crew couldn't be convinced.

I'd love to do something with MTV like that, but it's huge and they use a zillion different subcontractors (beyond the shell company issues, of course). The way Viacom took away benes for the sorta-in-house folks however, has led to some segments of that operation giving us another look....

-------------------------
Tris Carpenter, National Organizer
MPEG, IATSE Local 700
323-876-4770 x244
tcarpenter@editorsguild.com