my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Union Projectionists (Page 40)

This topic comprises 40 pages: 1  2  3  ...  37  38  39  40

Author Topic: Union Projectionists Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 08-02-2010 10:10 PM                        Hi! Betty, (friend of Carl G.) Welcome to Film-Tech! Louis  |  IP: Logged Elizabeth Betty Gross Film Handler Posts: 18 From: Astoria, NY, USA Registered: Jul 2004 posted 08-03-2010 12:25 PM                     Been on for a while, just didn't have anything to say, either because I would have spoken "out of turn" or I was rolling my eyes over the questions the Expert Film Gods ask. BTW, I know who you are!!  |  IP: Logged Glen Rich Film Handler Posts: 55 From: Nedlands, Western Australia Registered: Feb 2002 posted 08-03-2010 08:12 PM                     quote: David Kilderry As someone who has worked as both a union and non-union projectionist, I always thought somewhere in the middle would have been best. Unfortunately neither side ever found that middle ground. Some of the stop-work meetings (mini-strikes) we had were over crazy non-issues, they were just examples of muscle flexing. When working without any union protection, some companies simply would not pay for work done or comply with conditions agreed to. Good to see that the US brethren are so well represented. I wasn't about to comment until I came about Davids comments above. We had our own union here until the early 90's when it became amalgamated into ,(I think), what is now the Media & Allied Artists Alliance. Prior to that, apart from having to join the union if you wanted to work in Western Australia there was never any contact with them. When the upheavals started in the late 80's, we still heard nothing from them. When 1 company in particular slightly changed job titles to get around the awards we still got nothing from the union. Then suddenly in 1990 we all got called to a meeting... the union secretary gave us an outline about what was going on, but offered no solution, yet when a couple of people mentioned "Strike" they were pulled aside and threatened with a union black ban if they mentioned it again. The fix was in! I was twice threatened with being black banned by the union, (once simply for installing equipment that the union shop steward did not know how to operate, so wanted installation stopped. Which it did for 3 days until a training course was organised for him). After the amalgamation into "Media & etc", union representation was just as bad, simply because we were now a very tiny percentage of a very large union that rep'ed almost everyone involved in the media industries, and apart from collecting dues each year didn't want to hear from us. When work laws changed here most of us declined to be members of the union, and frankly my pay and conditions have never been better.  |  IP: Logged Dennis M Dow Jr Expert Film Handler Posts: 141 From: Bloomfield NJ USA Registered: Oct 2003 posted 08-04-2010 03:43 PM                       hi Betty long time no see... welcome  |  IP: Logged Elizabeth Betty Gross Film Handler Posts: 18 From: Astoria, NY, USA Registered: Jul 2004 posted 08-06-2010 11:10 AM                     Hi Dennis!! I saw the guy who said the union contract in NYC required that he get paid for 6 hours, but had to continue without pay until the work was done. This meant he worked for less than minimum wage. I had to call him on that! David, the beauty of a Union contract is that it spells out exactly what you are responsible for and what the EMPLOYER is responsible for. I have been in situations where the mgmt demanded I follow the contract TO THE LETTER! In these cases, I have politely told them that I would, but SO WOULD THEY! Take my word, it was harder for them.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 40 pages: 1  2  3  ...  37  38  39  40

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.