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Author Topic: Union Projectionists Michael Marini Film Handler Posts: 27 From: issue maryland/ USA Registered: Dec 2005 posted 07-05-2010 05:10 PM                     Jonathan Smith Expert Film Handler Posts: 126 From: New York, New York Registered: Jan 2010 posted 06-30-2010 12:51 AM CT (US) (1:51 AM Local) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I really wanted to write something detailed here, full of recent examples, but I don't want to get any Union or non-Union people in trouble by calling out specific examples of mediocrity I have experienced in the past month. To sumarize, though, and bring a dead thread back to life, I have to say that Union booths are MILES ahead of non-union in the way they treat their employees. My local has a good reputation in the market. We really care about what we do. I may have the fortune soon to join Local #600 here on the East Coast, but am looking forward to getting back to work up in the booth(until all the jobs disappear)... This thread has long gone cold, but I have to ask some of you how you feel, now that so many of you have "stood up" for these democratic benefactors the multiplexes, as they have laid down more than 30% cash in some cases to finance the elimation of your (our) jobs. Did some of you (the ones that are still on here making minimum wage 7 years ago are probably few and far between) ever take the time to actually watch the end credits of the movies you project at the rate of a quarter per screen? You'll notice a HONKING BIG IATSE logo emblazoned on just about every U.S.-made (in this area we are still number one BTW) film in theatres. The one exception I've personally projected would be "Paranormal Activity," a movie that didn't see fit to even credit the actors. So, has the failure of the unions and subsequent failure of employees in guest services' failure to unionize hastened the race to mediocrity that 2K DLP and 3D are now actively starting to bring to this industry? Guess we are fortunate that the mediocrity that is bringing the bar down below HOME TV quality is at least mostly absent in the studios that film the movies. There is an outsourcing trend going on, but the Union keeps domestic production safe from employer abuse. I also find it interesting some of the comments here about small businesses. As a small business owner myself, in an unrelated field, I pay my skilled employees $15/hr., and my unskilled employees $10, which was, incidentally more than I was making in a non-union booth. The Union here actually has negotiated lower rates for small independent theatres to accomodate their needs, in exchange for concessions on our end (other than free popcorn ;-) ). The Union here works WITH REASONABLE businesses, especially those invested in the area and not, say, Plano Texas, to meet the needs of all parties concerned. As a business owner, I think employees ought to make a fair wage. Even the wages I pay, full time, don't come out to that much money. . .  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 07-05-2010 05:36 PM                       Richard, "I end up doing twice the work to make up for the shit that they are "entitled" not to do, and they get paid very well for that fag they are smoking." There is nothing wrong with making a good wage, union or not. A lot of people in our industry think anyone getting more money then they do don't deserve it. If left to multi-national corps, we'd all still be working in company towns, buying at the company store, etc. There needs to be a countering force to this. Unions are one method. As to some other post; Idiots are part of life. We just had one as president.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-05-2010 05:40 PM                     Read carefully. I specifically said IATSE Local #113 was like a bunch of monkeys. If I was going to join, it would have to be Local #113. I could not join Local #1. I must join #113. I gave very specific reasons why I believe #113 is a bad union and I gave specific reasons why I believe another union is bad. I gave specific reasons why I would not join either of those groups. Then, backed up by facts which I believe to be true because of my own personal experience, I stated my opinion. Finally, to top it all off, I made reference to the fact that, if these groups would clean up their collective acts, I could be convinced to join and support the union. I think I have been very clear in my opinions, why I hold them and I have made it known that I am open to changing my mind if circumstances change. Michael, Either you can't read very well or you are purposely trying to stir the pot. Maybe you should check into your union's benefits package and see if they offer remedial English classes.  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 07-05-2010 05:52 PM                       Randy, I get it, we all have opinions and we form them in part, from our life experiences, from our parents, etc. No need to explain your viewpoint. Richard comes off way more hostile in general and his beef seems to be with construction unions and not so much with service unions and that is a whole other thing, as they don't have much clout and cannot control a job site.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 07-05-2010 06:42 PM                     quote: Michael Marini Hey Chris its ok with you that randy calls IA people monkeys.All i can say is there most be a lot of Rush fans on this site It's as if you didn't read the following: quote: Chris Slycord people posting here on both sides of the discussion have agreed that it isn't black-and-white and can depend on the union in question, company working with them, and any negotiations. When a person says "I had [X] happen with [Y] union chapter and see them as a bunch of monkeys" that isn't saying that all unions are bad or that all chapters are bad. Like when topics similar to this have come up, several different people mentioned having good experiences dealing with whichever chapter was [edit](I mean is)[/edit] in Seattle (and some of the same people mentioned having bad experiences elsewhere). Though I'm not sure where you got that I was actually ok with a person calling a group of people monkeys. All I was saying is that it's unfair to paint it as "all unions are good" and label anyone who even says "some are bad" as an idiot.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-05-2010 06:47 PM                     Thanks, Sam, for your understanding. However, I was speaking to another person who does not seem to want to accept any criticism of unions at all. One thing that I think is important in daily life is the ability to take criticism. Regardless of whether it is political, religious, scientific, moral or just plain personal preference, people NEED to accept criticism. They don't have to think that criticism is right. They don't need to do what critics say they should do. However, people MUST accept that criticism and consider whether that criticism is valid or not. The "correct" person will determine if the criticism is valid. If he finds it to be valid he will take appropriate action, based on the circumstances at hand, and fix the problem if, indeed, there is a problem. The "not-correct" person will reject all criticism which does not fit his personal beliefs and agitate against those people who criticize him. He seeks to maintain the status quo without regard to what others think. I gave a criticism. I said why I believe that criticism is true. Some other people even offered reasons to counter my criticism. I never said that my word was meant to be law. I only told people what I think and why I think it. Okay... So I took a jab at another person who seems to be either stirring the pot or is not reading and taking criticism seriously. It's not like people at Film-Tech haven't taken jabs at each other before.  |  IP: Logged Richard Hamilton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1341 From: Evansville, Indiana Registered: Jan 2000 posted 07-05-2010 08:15 PM                     Sam, Well said. I usually say whats on my mind and I tend to get riled up here on the forums. Most of the time its when I just wrote a check to my ex. All of my money to my ex = starting something on Film-Tech...... Seriously, I hope I don't offend anyone, except maybe Joe...  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 07-05-2010 08:55 PM                        The really bad part is that good people lost out along with the deserving (bad) people. (Be careful what you wish for. . . etc.) Louis  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 07-05-2010 10:21 PM                        quote: Michael Marini All i can say is there most be a lot of Rush fans on this site WTF? Please explain this comment. It makes no sense whatsoever. quote: Richard Hamilton Seriously, I hope I don't offend anyone, except maybe Joe... I'm all too happy to be offended by your comments!  |  IP: Logged Ian Parfrey Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1049 From: Imbil Australia 26 deg 27' 42.66" S 152 deg 42' 23.40" E Registered: Feb 2009 posted 07-05-2010 11:15 PM                     quote: Richard Hamilton Did you post that finger on Union time? Richard. I'm still laughing. You've made my day, long may your agitation continue. ...and I'm not into union bashing at all. There are places for unions and places where their influence isn't required. As usual there are two sides to every story and we are all entitled to our opinion...except when that opinion is forced upon others.  |  IP: Logged James Westbrook Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1133 From: Lubbock, Texas, Usa Registered: Mar 2006 posted 07-05-2010 11:20 PM                     I'm sure there are a lot of Rush fans out there. The band has been around since the 70s and have a loyal following.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 07-05-2010 11:23 PM                     They call me the Striking Man. I guess that's what I am.  |  IP: Logged Ian Parfrey Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1049 From: Imbil Australia 26 deg 27' 42.66" S 152 deg 42' 23.40" E Registered: Feb 2009 posted 07-05-2010 11:32 PM                     You load sixteen tons, what do you get Another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 07-06-2010 02:19 AM                        Hmmmm... gonna have to go back and read Michael's 12 other posts. Seems he's got a bug up somewhere. Actually, Michael, if you spend some quality time here, you'll find that a whole lot of people on this board have been union members, and can speak with authority about the good, bad and ugly when it comes to the union in general, and their (former) local in particular. I can only speak for the locals in Seattle, Olympia and Yakima, WA. In all of those areas, union members were fiercely protective of their turf, their negotiated rights, and their responsibilities. In my area, a lot of us took the demise of our jobs pretty hard. On the other hand, there was no question in our minds that we were among the best you could get into a booth. As far as we were concerned, once the contract was signed, those rooms belonged to us, and we went out of our way not to give the owners any reason to question it. The experience of others... maybe even you... may differ. There are bad apples everywhere. While I don't like what time and progress did to our jobs, I more or less understand it. Being pissed at reality won't change it. Time to move on and make hay where you can.  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 07-06-2010 09:39 AM                       Jack has it right for sure. We took pride a lot of pride in doing our jobs as perfectly as possible and there was no doubt we were usually the most well trained person in the building. Managers came and went with the tide, so we were often the only "adult" in the building it seemed. I did a Dolby training course for the Toronto IA local; at that time the highest paid operators in the world, Chicago included. We introduced the Dolby Barcode automation and you should have heard the ruckus. I was really taken aback by the attitude and the Luddite reaction, but Lonny Jennings who was with me, put it right when he said, "Automation is not taking your jobs, the xenon bulb did that". It's progress with all the unintended consequences.  |  IP: Logged

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