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Topic: Union Projectionists

Justin West
Master Film Handler

Posts: 271
From: Peoria, IL, USA
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 03-26-2005 10:10 PM

quote: Aaron Mehocic
As far as the IATSE is concerned, membership is forbidden at my theatre and termination assured.

~THAT, is illegal!

quote: Aaron Mehocic
Although, I lost the ability to contribute to a pension fund, my salary is set by a collective bargaining team of unionized full-time professors. This fall semester, I'll earn $24.00 more per credit hour, amounting to about a $216.00 raise for 10 weeks of work.

~SO, there IS something beneficial to this "union" thing after all, eh? [Wink]

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 03-27-2005 10:07 AM

No employer can prohibit an employee from joining a union. As to whether a union has jurisdiction to bargain for said employee is another matter.

If anyone is ever told by their employer that they will be fired for joining a union...don't wait, call the nearest NLRB office.

[ 03-28-2005, 09:44 AM: Message edited by: Steve Guttag ]

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Peter Kerchinsky
Master Film Handler

Posts: 326
From: Seattle, WA, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 03-28-2005 04:54 AM

Steve
AMEN to your last response.
I'm still a believer in the fact that we workers still have "rights" regardless.

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Aaron Mehocic
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 804
From: New Castle, PA, USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-28-2005 01:50 PM

Steve actually hit on what I was trying to say regarding termination. I don't believe union bargaining agreements cover my particular workplace anymore, therefore, if I wanted to unionize (which I do not), I'd probably be "let go" for other reasons to mask the true intent of the firing.

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John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 03-28-2005 04:44 PM

Aaron wrote: "...I'd probably be "let go" for other reasons..."

Even so, you would still have a good case. All you would have to do is show in court you were generally good employee. Although I agree with you that this type of employer abuse does happen and it's hard for a regualr guy to fight it.

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Dean Kollet
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 591
From: Florida State University
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 03-28-2005 04:51 PM

reminds me of what my Boss at the other theatre I worked at told me.

me jokingly, "hey ___. what if we tried to unionize"
her seriously, "I'd fire you"

kinda made me wonder, but my parents had a point...is it worth the fight to be a Booth Manager @ an AMC when they would only pay me $8.50 an hour?

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Floyd Justin Newton
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 559
From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 03-28-2005 04:56 PM

Dean--

Sad [thumbsdown]

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Dean Kollet
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 591
From: Florida State University
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 03-28-2005 04:57 PM

really though, what can you do? [Roll Eyes]

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 03-28-2005 05:20 PM

Honestly? Actually tell the NLRB what was said to you. Turn the tables...if it is "just a booth manager" job...what is the big loss?

I've been to these NLRB interviews and it will put the theatre on notice. Most managers nowadays don't even realize that merely stating that they would terminate an employee for unionizing is a federal offense.

A business needn't worry about unions if they would just treat their employees fairly. If people feel cheated, abused, overworked or paid unfairly...you will get union talk...that is why unions and collective barganing came about.

People talk here about "typical union tacticts" and never seem to notice that what was just discussed here is typical administrative tacticts and it is as illegal as any other law.

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Dean Kollet
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 591
From: Florida State University
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 03-28-2005 05:22 PM

I don't work there anymore, but I guess I still have a valid complaint...

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Frank Angel
Film God

Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-01-2005 11:43 PM

quote: Steve Guttag
A business needn't worry about unions if they would just treat their employees fairly. If people feel cheated, abused, overworked or paid unfairly...you will get union talk...that is why unions and collective barganing came about.

As usual, Steve is absolutely on the money here. I was approached by a union which offered me less (MUCH less) in every area than what I already had been able to negotiate with my employer on my own. My employer treated me in a way that I considered fair and decent. In such an instance, a union is superfulous. Why would I need a union to bargain for me? Plus, right from the very first conversation with them, they were boorish, antagonistic and disrespectiful....not qualities that would prompt me to join their ranks.

And this is something that I always wondered about all those assistant managers and concession personnel that management keeps sending up to the booth to "run the show." Some day, if management keeps adding that function to their job discription, they are going to wake up and realize that they are projectionists (which they must realize is what they are) were making a lot more money than their near minimum wage. Some day there may be an epiphany and these folks are going to see how they are being used. Then guess what....THEY may unionize-- start their own Motion Picture Automation Starter and Assistant Floor/Concessionaire's Union. Wouldn' THAT be a boil on the ass of exhibition....hehe.

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-01-2005 11:59 PM

I swear, that would be the button that would push DCinema. Some of these exhibitors would rather pay for DCinema than pay $.25 more an hour but with a union contract in there!

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Richard May
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1057
From: Floral Park, NY USA
Registered: Aug 2004

posted 04-02-2005 07:54 AM

Frank, that may be the case with your employer, but I don't know any other non union operator job in the NYC area that makes more than union ones. There may be one or two that I don't know about, but that is about all.

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Sam D. Chavez
Film God

Posts: 2153
From: Martinez, CA USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 04-03-2005 11:56 AM

Frank's comments are pithy as usual. There's not 3 degrees of separation between Frank's sensibilities and the views of most Union guys.

The difference I suspect is Frank is an iconoclast.

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 04-03-2005 12:52 PM

quote: Steve
Some of these exhibitors would rather pay for DCinema than pay $.25 more an hour but with a union contract in there!

Yes, sir. I've said this all along. It's not too much of a stretch to imagine the pencil-pushers jumping at a chance to plonk down $100K+ per screen for DC... to get rid of a couple of $18,000/yr. operators for good!

Multis! [Roll Eyes]

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