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Utilizing fiery language like “solidarity is the answer to company greed” and “if we don’t get what we would like, we are going to shut it f–king down day one,” union leaders on Sunday held what was dubbed a “unity rally” to rev up employees earlier than joint negotiations start Monday between IATSE and Teamsters Native 399 with the Alliance of Movement Image and Tv Producers.
Tons of of employees from all aspects of the below-the-line neighborhood, from electrical employees and plasterers to editors, costumers and script supervisors packed a park simply west of the I-405 in Encino, CA. to gear up for what they hope might be a profitable negotiation interval with the studios.
To return the favor since so many below-the-line employees joined actors and writers on the picket line final summer season, members of SAG and WGA have been entrance and middle to listen to the speeches and yell “many crafts one struggle” together with all people else.
“Isn’t it nice to have a rally with no strike?” requested Lindsay Dougherty, chief negotiator for Teamsters Native 399, whereas looking over the parking zone of employees — most of whom wore black and sported union T-shirts that learn “pay fairness now” and “nothing strikes with out the crew.”
“That is what solidarity appears to be like like,” Dougherty continued. “As all people is aware of, Teamsters aren’t afraid of a struggle and IATSE isn’t, both. And though WGA and SAG-AFTRA needed to strike final yr to get what they wanted, I’m right here to inform the AMPTP — they usually know and that’s why they worry us probably the most — that with IATSE and Teamsters collectively, if we don’t get what we would like, we are going to shut it down f–king day one.”
SAG-AFTRA’s chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Eire attended the rally to situation a phrase of warning in regards to the upcoming talks.
“The studios and streamers are seemingly going to make use of the identical drained playbook that they used with us final yr and with the Writers Guild,” he started. “There’ll be a public disinformation marketing campaign aimed toward sowing discord amongst all of you and us. There might be messaging round how your jobs might be changed with expertise. They’ll say the shortage of labor and the extinction of pilot season is the union’s fault. However everyone knows the reality. The employers are those who’re chasing quarterly numbers as an alternative of pursuing a sustainable enterprise mannequin.”
A number of the hardest language on Sunday got here from Teamsters Normal President Sean O’Brien, who referred to the studios as “white-collar crime syndicates.”
“It’s time, brothers and sisters, to make them conscious that in the event that they thought they’d a struggle final summer season, they … can’t even predict what’s going to occur to them,” he stated. “I used to be by no means so proud to see the braveness and conviction of supporting our brothers and sisters at each respective unions. As a result of the one factor that’s predictable with these corporations is …. they’re not that shiny. You suppose they’d have realized final yr once they took on two sturdy unions. These unions like the remainder of us, we don’t have the deep pockets. We don’t have the financing however we’ve acquired intestinal fortitude. We acquired braveness and conviction to tackle the struggle. And I believe all of us agree that we’re determined and being determined is nice. Being determined implies that we don’t care about penalties for our actions. We don’t care about public relations. What we care about is ensuring that our members … who make these white collar crime syndicates the success they’re … it’s not about what they’re going to offer us. It’s about what we’re going to demand and take shifting ahead. Are you able to struggle?”
IATSE Boss Matthew Loeb wrapped up the rally by saying “we’re the antidote to the greed that’s been laid upon us.”
“That is our household. Go searching at any person you don’t know and inform them you’ve acquired their again. ‘Cuz that’s what it’s going to take, of us,” he stated. “This can be a crystal clear message that each union within the leisure trade’s standing right here collectively. And that has by no means occurred earlier than however I think it would proceed to occur into the longer term as we construct energy and solidarity.”
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