Broken skull Ranch strike

[Joshua Gitersonke]

Thats the rediculous deal.... No Benefits for 6 weeks of work. I can't emphasize enough that this was expressed to the union reps as an important thing from the whole crew. It seems as though it was the first thing thrown away.

The union will tell you that they included tough language in the contract that would give us the first right of refusal for next season.... I have yet to see the contract. Nor was I told I would be able to see it.

The union came the last week of the show which surprised us. A lot of us expressed our thoughts that this was tactically bad and could possibly end in a bad way. The union had known about the show since the first season and ignored it.

The representatives from the union said they had already spoken to the producers and that the process would most likely be quick and easy.... "BUT you never know how long these things can last." Come to find out no one had spoken to anyone and the whole thing was a giant surprise to the production.

We were all treated like criminals when we were trying to get all of our gear off of set, So I have a hard time believing we will all get calls for the next season.

There was a lot of hostility.

I lost out on about 9 grand worth of work. Bridges seem to be burned just for being associated with the whole process. The union rep said that she's sure this will benefit some of us.... which was irritating becasue it's supposed to benefit all of us. I've paid my dues to the union for almost 7 years and always missed out on insurance by very few hours. The whole thing was a very half assed attempt at flipping a show, which hurt a lot of people. I do agree we are better off with unions... But this was not what I expected.

[William Demeritt]

So what benefit does the Union having a contract in place grant you that exists now that you didn't have before? Were they not paying overtime? Were they not keeping things safe? Because it sounds like the Union just dealt themselves a winning hand: they get a contract, contributions moving forward to get you "Back to work", but you get nothing retroactively? Is that accurate?

 

Money or no money, I'd be inclined to quit that show. Doesn't sound like a health workplace, Union or not.

[Joshua Gitersonke]

It wasn't a bad show for me. It's not an easy show though. Tons of fine dust ( takes me a full day to clean everything completely after the shows over ) high winds (40mph sometimes ). Freezing in the morning, over a hundred soon after the sun comes out.

Art department had a very bad deal with a low flat rate. We all supported them and felt the show should be union. But a lot of us felt the way and when it was done was very poorly planned... Or not planned at all. It seems the union didn't mind burning us in order to get a deal for the next seasons.

[Sanjay Sami]

That just sucks, but is often the way things pan out.

Producers take it personally and single out the people they feel were responsible and punish them.

All the more reason it hurts when someone breaks ranks.

[JamieSilverstein]

To my knowledge there are no shows that have been organized on the East Coast that have waived benefits outright.. That is unheard of here. No Local in New York could ever do that and face it's members......... And if production was mistreating members, business agents would arrive shortly after a call were made and stick around, just to make sure that production was acting human (like).

I feel good about what we do in the eastern region. I might not agree with all of the decisions or negotiations, but I feel like the 600 office on the East Coast has the member's best interests in mind. But I can only speak for the Eastern Region.

And if there were a Steadicam operator wearing a mask on set to disguise his identity, working across the picket line, I'd personally find out who it was and post his name on every street lamp in the city. That selfish lowlife worm should never work in this business again. Anywhere.

Just my 2¢.

[William Demeritt]

And if there were a Steadicam operator wearing a mask on set to disguise his identity, working across the picket line, I'd personally find out who it was and post his name on every street lamp in the city. That selfish lowlife worm should never work in this business again. Anywhere.

Just my 2¢.

 

One challenge we face in LA is that you can actually make a full career out of openly going against the Unions (and scabbing on jobs that put someone out of work). While in other places, there's an actual fear of being found out, here in LA people damn near make it a lifestyle and don't care. The individual who finished shooting the last Sharknado movie allegedly has staked their name on saying "F*** IATSE".

[JamieSilverstein]

William;

I feel your frustration..... On the East Coast, our business agants, in conjunction with other Locals actively organize jobs, and anyone who flaunts their non-union activity does so at their own risk...

As an Executive Board member of Local 600, I am probably considered one of the more outspoken critics of the Local and on occasion the International... I believe that we can always do better for the membership and I voice that opinion...

HOWEVER;

(And this is for those of you who aren't in the Union or don't agree with the Union for one reason or another,)

Anyone who works in this business as a technician of any kind is a fool and an idiot if he or she thinks that they are better off working without the protection of the IA and their Local... Without union contracts to lead the way, that guy who proudly displays his displeasure with the IA would be working even longer hours than he does at present and for a pittance of what he is currently paid.

I don't ever wish anyone ill or harm, but I can't wait to see what would happen if that person were to break an ankle on set. The medical and therapy expenses alone would be enormous..... Those things are covered under our benefits plans and our plans are some of the best in the country... Yes Best in the Country.

So say what you want about the IA and 600. I certainly am a critic. They are far from perfect, but without them your life on set would be pretty sucky, and your check at the end of the week would be even suckier.....

Just a little aside...... I did Sharknado 2, which was done under a Union contract. I made more than that dope, and I got benefits that will help me and my family for a long time to come........

Again just my 2¢