Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Regal -non competition clause?

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Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 09-21-2002, 12:57 AM:

Does regal have a non-competition cluase that would prevent me from working at another theatre concurrently with the one i work at now?

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 09-21-2002, 01:13 AM:

Yes, unless things have changed. When I was with Regal, the District Mananger told me point blank that if I held a union card, I could not work for Regal.

Whether or not he was usurping his athority, I don't know. But the bottom line was, I had a union placement with AMC to service their equipment in the area since Regal wanted to remove all my benefits and reduce my hours. I turned that position with AMC down because of the statement Regal's District Manager made, and I have to admit it was a stupid decision on my part.

I told the District Manager to shove his company and his theatres where the sun does not shine shortly thereafter. I should have taken up AMC's and the union's offer, and told Regal to "shove it" earlier.

rant mode off!!

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 09-21-2002, 02:32 AM:

Paul,

If he told you that I believe he broke national labor law.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 09-21-2002, 07:15 AM:

Sean is right. An employer can no discriminate against a worker because they belong or do not belong to a union. I'd have recommended you call your local NLRB.

Steve

------------------
"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 09-21-2002, 10:57 AM:

Let me give you the details:

I have worked at Regal/Edwards for over a year as a ground level minimum wage employe. It has come to my attention that a local independant theatre is hiring, and starting their employes at higher than minimum wage. Ideally, I would like to divide my time between the two theatres.

I have a good thing going at Regal/Edwards. I provide outstanding customer service, work hard, and have high upsale rate at the concession stand. I really enjoy working at this location.

Since the independent only shows independent films, I don't think it should be considered direct competition to the Edwards/Regal Location.

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 09-21-2002, 11:18 AM:

Mike - If the independent theater can give you the same amount of hours as the Regal/Edwards would, I would inquire with them and then talk to your manager. Explain that you like working at your theater, you are a good employee, been there a year, etc. but that a better offer has come along. Explain that it is not a chain and ask if it would be a violation of the clause. Don't indicate you want/plan to quit, but subtly indicate that they could be losing a very good employee if they don't pay you what you're worth.

If the manager realizes that she/he could be losing a great employee, they will try to do something about it, possibly a raise. If they seem indifferent or encourage you to go to the other theater, they unfortunately probably regard you not as an employee, but as merely "time on the clock" as most corporations do. Sad, but true. If this is the case, you may be appreciated more at the independent.

Paul -- Sounds to me like you were a victim of union-bashing. That's why I always carry a handheld tape recorder whenever I have to speak to superiors. It changes their tune really quick.

=TMP=

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 09-21-2002, 11:22 AM:

Mike,

You cannot work for Regal and competition at the same time. This I know for a fact. However, you bring up a good point that they may not consider that theater competition. I still don't think you can work for Regal and any other theater at the same time.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 09-21-2002, 12:05 PM:

Sean Steve and Thomas: I wanted to challenge them. Unfortunately, I did not have the time or financial resources to follow it through at that time. I was basically going to be out of a job soon, and I knew it.

This may sound sarcastic, but it is true. I don't know why Regal wanted to enforce the "non-competition" clause. Some theatres in the outlying area put on a much better presentation anyway. There was no competition to begin with.

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 09-21-2002, 12:12 PM:

This is a touchy subject in a way so here are my opinions. First off I believe that if you work on the floor staff and are not a member of the management crew, you should be able to work at the other theater. What information could you pass along that could not be picked up by the other theater anyway. Now if you were in a managment situation I feel that would be different because then you are privey to other info and the company would feel that you need to spend more time with them than someone else. If it is in writting and you signed a paper saying that you can not work at another theater while working at this one then You can't. Otherwise it is none of there damn business where you work or what you do on your own time.

As far as Paul's situation there is a problem when it comes to unions and non unions businesses. If the state has a right to work law in place then it does not matter if you hold a card or not. If there is no right to work law established then you must choose one way or the other you can't have both.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 09-21-2002, 12:27 PM:

Darryl has a point. It is a matter of which states do, and which states do not.

However, we have to be careful what we write here. Regal has "Lurkers" that don't have the intestinal fortitude to come forward and clear up some of the sticky points with us. When they read our posts, and if some of them were written by Regal employees, Regal takes a very dim view and will eventually find a way to terminate the employee.

Another point-blank statement I heard from the higher-ups was basically this: "If an employee speaks unfavorable about the company, that employee will be fired."

Sorry, I get a little steamed about this....I wish I would have had a pocket cassette with me when I was dealing with some of the corporate guys in Regal.

I trust people until they do something to me that will cause me to distrust them. I trusted Regal until I got the shaft.

Doesn't it seem strange that just about every ex-Regal employee has nothing good to say about that company? I have never heard of a company that has more disgruntled ex-employees than they have.

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 09-21-2002, 12:42 PM:

I hear ya Paul. I just talked to a guy the other day who left our company to go to work for Regal only to come back three weeks later with nothing good to say.

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 09-21-2002, 02:29 PM:

quote:
Doesn't it seem strange that just about every ex-Regal employee has nothing good to say about that company? I have never heard of a company that has more disgruntled ex-employees than they have.

I like Regal. I'm kicking myself for having left. I can't wait to finish school so I can get out of this town and go back to South Florida where I will have a large selection of Regals to choose from.

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 09-21-2002, 04:11 PM:

Mike,

As an hourly, I see no reason as to why you can not work both locations at the same time. Given the circumstances, and presuming you would explain them to your manager, I see no problem with working both locations.

I can say this, working for a major chain, as you do, you will often times not 'enjoy' your job as you should becuase of corporate structure and it's (sometimes) ineffectiveness. Your options could greatly expand with an indie and the rewards, both personal and financial could very well prove to be to your liking.

At any rate, take a few days to mull over the situation, talk to both theatre managers and explain the situation to them both. If either of them are worth their weight in salt, they'd be glad to have you whenever they could, if, of course, you are the employee that you say you are. I know I wouldn't have an issue with it, company policy or not.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-21-2002, 04:20 PM:

I wonder what Regal's concern is here. Certainly it would be unethical to share (non-public) company information with a competitor or to work as management for two businesses that are in direct competition, but what's the problem for non-management types? Last time I checked, there wasn't anything remotely secret or proprietary about running a booth or popping corn. And what about working for another theatre in a completely different market? It sounds like Regal wouldn't like this, either, but I can't imagine why.

Theatre work is a part-time "fun" job for me, and I work at several places, none of which are in direct competition with each other. I enjoy working in different places; all of them know this and none seems to care. I don't see why Regal would have an issue with it.

(If Regal really does have a perfectly valid reason for this rule, I'd be curious. And, no, I've never worked for them or in any other theatre in one of their markets.)

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 09-21-2002, 04:38 PM:

Im not going to give to many more details (ive been in trouble for posting to much info here before)

I brought it up with my manager. She doesn't know right off the top of her head, however she doesn't think regal would go for that. I told her that if she wanted to throw in a competitive bid (a raise, promotion, projection time, etc.) I would drop the situation.

BTW, the independent theatre i'm aplying to is Madstone Hazard 7 (Pictures from when Mann owned it are on the Film-Tech pictures section). It's almost a half hour from the Edwards I work at, so IMHO it shouldnt be considered competition at all.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 09-21-2002, 08:18 PM:

Regal is Regal, and always will be Regal. It is either the Regal Way or out the door you go, period!

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 09-22-2002, 01:01 AM:

Paul, the NLRB case shouldn't have cost you...either they take on the case or they wouldn't. The non-discrimination law with regards to being a union member or not is a federal law, irrespective of the Right to Work (for less) states laws.

Steve

------------------
"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 09-22-2002, 01:09 AM:

Thanks, Steve.

It is too late for me to do anything about it now, but I hope others learn from my mistake. Since I laid my cards on the table, maybe some good will become of it after all. Again, Thanks.

I don't want anyone to go through the crap I had to go through in those uncertain times.

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 09-22-2002, 01:30 AM:

Evereything has been taken care of. I will remain employed with Regal for the forseable future.

Thanks for your advice! It's always great to know that there is a group of knowledgeable people here to call upon when needed.

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 09-23-2002, 10:55 AM:

It truly is sad that a company would have to come on here and 'look around' to see if anything bad was being said about them (you would think they could take constructive criticism). If I was part of a company like that - I'd have to leave it. As a former General Manager of Regal - and a corporate employee of theirs also - my only biggest single complaint was the pay. I remain friends with a lot of the corporate employees and general managers of that company.If they have 'lurkers' on here - the only thing I can say is "Get a Life".

I was speaking to the vice president of a manufacturing company just the other day - he heard about film-tech.com and said that 'it sounds like a very positive forum'.He wishes every industry out there had similar forums. Long Live Film-Tech!

------------------
"Running through life at 24 frames per second"

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 09-23-2002, 08:12 PM:

Gee, why don't theater companies send 'lurkers' into the actual THEATRES to check the presentation???

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 09-23-2002, 08:34 PM:

Some do....but many of them who do the checking would not know a good presentation even if it bit them in the butt!

Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 09-23-2002, 11:06 PM:

Paul....If this should happen to you again, you should think about re-enlisting in the U.S. Navy.

Posted by Josh Kirkhart (Member # 1046) on 09-24-2002, 01:30 PM:

Mike,

If you ever have a question regarding policy at your theatre that your manager can not directly answer call Human Resources. Everybody makes this sound like the last thing on the planet to do, but really its the easiest and the most informative. You don't have to give your name and it will not get anyone in trouble. This will give you a definite answer if you still wanted to know. That is what they are there for.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 09-24-2002, 03:02 PM:

As long as the HR Director isn't named "Catbert".

Catbert
Catbert: Very Evil, Nicely Done

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Posted by Mike Williams (Member # 1140) on 09-25-2002, 07:44 AM:

Who has had a problem with Regal corporate employees "lurking"? Honestly, I thought I was one of the few people in the office that actually knew about this board. I post fairly often so I don't consider myself a "lurker".

Mike should probably contact the HR department for that question if he afraid of approaching his GM or DM with it. 1-877-TELL-REGAL I think. (I don't work in HR so I would not go near answering his question myself).

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 09-25-2002, 07:51 AM:

Regal Cinema's Vice President of Technical Services, Roger Frazee, has participated in Film-Tech discussions as well, and has been proactive in responding to technical problems.

IMHO, encouraging your theatre's management to participate in the discussions is a good idea.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 09-25-2002, 02:30 PM:

John, I second that...

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 09-25-2002, 04:07 PM:

John - Paul,

I agree as well. Seems that they (the 'higher-ups') would want some sort of active participation for the 'constructive criticism' and 'useful insight' held with this forum. On the opposite side of the coin, you have the sites like regalsucks.com and carmikesucks.com, which do absouletly nothing for the progression of the company. Film-Tech, however, does. Or at least in my opinion it does. I've gotten answers to simple things (as well as some more complex ones) right here without ever having to pick up the phone for a tech. There have been questions answered (ie, ratings/run times) that I couldn't even get from the home office!

For the most part, any posts I see from employees do not often contain the chain/theatre name, so there is still a form of 'anonymity' here. I'll be the first to admit that often times when I post, I do think about what I'm saying so as not to reflect negatively on my own company no matter how I feel about them. As the old saying goes, an opinion is like an asshole... everyone has one but some stink more than others...

What I dont' understand is why any 'higher-up' would speak out against any employee within the company participating in this forum (or others similar to it). It makes me think that the person thinks enough of their job to seek information outside of the location... which signals that they at least "care" (I use that term quite loosely) about what they are doing...

Then again, who am I?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 09-25-2002, 04:13 PM:

You are Jason Black.

Posted by Darren Crimmins (Member # 1116) on 09-25-2002, 10:26 PM:

I think it's very funny that if you do try to call the 1-877-TELL-REGAL, that you get a recorded message telling you to explain your complaint to a machine and leave a phone number, basically. Like they will call you back

. You have to pretty much go to the other options given and ask for a person in the HR department if you want to do any good.

Posted by Mike Judge (Member # 558) on 09-25-2002, 11:41 PM:

Up to the DM is how I remember it. A crafty way of avoiding the law, but still keeping their employees controlled if you ask me. As far as Regal goes...gee...like a bad two year one-night stand with a constant hangover. I wish now I could've taken my time and energies and put them into what I really wanted to be doing. Rather than flushing them down Regal's toilet. Watch out, Regal is Regan's wetdream come to life.

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 09-26-2002, 12:31 PM:

[SARCASM ON]

The reason some company lurkers may not want their employees participating in such a forum is because there is nothing wrong with the company. They never have presentation problems, their equipment is perfect, their customer service is top-notch, and therefore any negative comments or inquiries about problems are clearly lies.

Employees need to go through the proper channels to handle problems and not try to figure them out on their own. They are paid to work, not to think. Speak to your supervisor who will speak to the Second Assistant Manager who will relay the message to the Assistant Manager who, at their convenience, will notify the General Manager who will find the best way to convey the message to the proper people at the corporate office without making it sound like there's a problem at their location. Employees have to realize that it may take up to 2-3 weeks before a response completely unrelated to their question will arrive. This is the only way problems will truly be solved.

Furthermore, if you post a question on such a forum, unqualified people (that is, those not working for the said company) may answer your question and give you the wrong information because they were not trained properly by the company's own people. Regardless if it is good information and solves the problem, it is still improper.

Then there is the situation with posting secret company information in a public forum. If other theater chains find out how much the said company charges for a large popcorn and soda, this could ultimately ruin competition! Not to mention what brand of buttery topping is used. This type of information should be strictly confidential.

As for posting print information, this should be illegal. What if a customer were to find out that a given film is Scope? Then they will have a reason to complain when it is cropped to 1.85 in the company's smaller auditorium, and we can't have that. Not to mention if the company advertizes a film to be in DTS, and someone were to find out the print does not have a DTS track, this could potentially cause some serious legal trouble for the company.

Company loyalty is of the utmost importance. He who hates his company hates his country. Just like your children can do no wrong, your company can NEVER do any wrong. They are perfect as long as they give you your paycheck and don't you forget it!!

[/SARCASM OFF]

=TMP=

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 09-26-2002, 12:40 PM:

The Regal corporate headquarters number is: 865-922-1123. Isn't the TELL-REGAL line specifically meant for the general public to call with presentation comments/complaints?

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 09-26-2002, 12:57 PM:

One of the biggest "turn-off's" I experienced with Regal is that we were told to "Snitch" on our fellow workers if they said something bad about the company. I am sorry...I don't operate that way, and I will never work for a company that tells me that.

How can you have a good working enviroment if you know there are people who are watching every move you make and everything you say, and knowing someone will report it to the "higher ups" so it will make themselves look good for company promotions? How sick.....One big company "witch hunt."

It sort of reminds me of the old William Holden movie, "Stalag 17".

'nuff said.

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 09-26-2002, 03:09 PM:

When I was at Regal, what led to my leaving was when a "booth certifier" came and pretended to be my friend, but was really looking for anything bad I was doing (like not raising the top masking in between shows for the slides) and instead of talking to me about it went to the District Manager and ratted on me, who in turn called the theatre manager and had her talk to me about it (I never spoke with the District Manager once, he always had his messages go through other people to me! I've heard he is no longer there though.)
I should have explained things better (and ratted the "booth certifier" out for teaching the other people to cut frames off of used prints rather than removing the splicing tape, and not catching mistakes when showing them how to thread-up!), but at the time I was in such disbelief that anyone could operate that way, I looked for another job instead and they lost their most dedicated employee as a result.
(A friend of mine recently went there and said the slides were OUT OF FOCUS, which I never let happen when I was there! Oh well, at least they fill the entire flat screen now.)

Posted by Christopher Duvall (Member # 284) on 09-26-2002, 04:36 PM:

I need to get a few things off my chest here. Paul, I am sorry you had a rotten experience with Regal but the bs you are spewing is just that. I have been with Regal for over 6 years and never once I dealt with any of the crap you have put forth. The corporate people and DM's do not solicit their employees to "Snitch" out others. That may have been a District you worked in or a rotten GM. That is not a company policy.

Yes, it is true. There are corporate employees and OTHER employees that do lurk on this site and I have gotten feedback from them, but I was NEVER told to censor myself. Do I like some of the things Regal does...no. As a whole, Regal has been VERY good to me and treated me fairly every time I have had problems as well as the others I have worked with. I have never seen any "Witch Hunts". I dare everybody out there that has complaints about Regal to also look at your own company as well. NO company is perfect. I have heard horror stories about most theatre chains. I have my horror stories about AMC but I will not go into here. That problem is between myself and AMC.

I have seen people here bash Regal and I keep quiet. I have seen people bash Technicolor and I keep quiet. AMC, UA, small chains, big chains and etc...I keep quiet. You know why? If I have a problem with those companies, I take it up with them. I don't whine about it. I am about to step all over Brad's toes on this one...isn't this forum to better the industry and not to bash each other? This forum is to help each other REGARDLESS of company. Many of you Regal haters out there do not realize this but there many, MANY people like myself that do our best everyday to run the best facilities out there. Are there some bad apple out there? Yes, but they will get theirs. They will move on and mess up some other company for awhile. All companies have these jerks to contend with.

As for one of you ex-Regal people out there. You need to get your head out of your ass. Your failure to follow the chain of command is why you found yourself in a world of shit. (Not you Paul).

Brad, I am sorry for raising all this hell on your site and if I am banned I will understand. If I get flamed by others, so be it. I could not stand quietly any longer.

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 09-26-2002, 06:14 PM:

Christopher, I hope I don't sound like I'm kissing up to you, but I've admired most of the stuff you posted here. I wish I could have worked for a manager who thought like you (after all, you say you actually watch movies and have a home theatre setup!)
That said, I have to say if anyone had their head up their ass, it was whoever thought out the policy I put into question in the first place. I won't go into too much detail here but basically there was something very WRONG in the "chain of command" for something so unprofessional to be policy in the first place. Yes, looking back I would have handled it differently now, but still feel that whoever decided to have the green bands cut off of all trailers should have considered that maybe the studios MIGHT have a problem with that. Also, the booth I was in had SO many simple things wrong with it when I started that I seriously had the impression that the people running the place did not know what they were doing, and I wasn't even sure WHO to talk to (they had been through several different general managers in less than a year already). However I did meet the District Manager who was part of our district in 2000 and found him to be a very decent person (and again, I'm not kissing up- I wouldn't say anything positive or negative about anyone unless I really meant it.) The person who took over that district after him though I can't really say anything about since I never met or even spoke on the phone with him- I wrote him a letter once but he never answered, all correspondance was through other people he had told to pass the message to.
This is starting to get off the topic of the thread anyway (I believe it was about working for 2 theatres in the same market, not to "bash" or praise Regal Cinemas), but a company that big you can't really have an opinion of if you've only worked for a few of their locations- I'm sure I wouldn't have the same problems working at a different Regal location, and Paul wouldn't have either at locations other than where he worked. (By the same token, I've never worked for UA but one of their theatres in this area is EXTREMELY poorly run, but I'm sure not all UA theatres are run like that.) Let's all be friends here, OK?

Posted by Christopher Duvall (Member # 284) on 09-26-2002, 06:56 PM:

I do really want to be friends here. I just wish the bashing in general would more even keeled. It is one thing to complain and do it right and another to outright bash. Jesse I know your situation as well as the other situation I was referring to. I felt for you and I did not agree with the policy laid out about the green bands.

To everybody here, I have always felt this is the place to go to, to fix a problem, hang out with other like yourself, better the industry...blah blah blah... I never felt it would be the place that we would just bitch about things.

Here is a touchy subject...Technicolor. I have my problems about them. However, I have always taken my complaints through the channels. Coming here to just gripe will not accomplish anything. Paul, I am sorry I went after you, but I am very passionate about the people and company that has always looked out for me through thick and thin. Even when I was in deep doo doo. It really sounds like you got shafted pretty hard by an individual that had a case of rectal-cranial inversion. With all the changes I have seen in the last 6 years and mainly the last 6 months, it may be a very good chance that person finally "got his" for what appears to be politcal gamemanship. I have had my share in Vegas alone with NOW former employees. They were VERY BAD APPLES that tried to take me down as well. I have an excellent DM that could see through all the BS and has helped me. All the DM's that I have worked for in Regal have been that way.

BTW, in Regal, we do have to watch what we say to media outlets such as web-sites because Regal wants "One Voice". In this case, our VP of Marketing and Advertising. However, I will go on the record by saying that it was Mr. Frazee (VP of techical services) back in 1999 that sent an email out to us to endorse Film-Tech. He recommended to everybody go here and and use it because the information here is very useful. We also do purchase Film-Guard. I personally cannot get enough of it. If I could, I would bathe in it ;>

A little suck up to Brad there...

Again, I feel that I am stepping on the moderator's toes here, but I feel we should be using this site pro-actively instead of "I was screwed, so F-the whole company" attitude.

Rant mode off (hopefully for awhile).

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 09-26-2002, 07:32 PM:

How are things over there at the Green Valley Ranch, Chris?

:-)

Posted by Christopher Duvall (Member # 284) on 09-26-2002, 08:25 PM:

Busy busy busy. The big question is...how are you doing at Neonopolis?

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 09-26-2002, 09:54 PM:

It's September -you know. We are waiting for Jillians to open on October 14th. Product looks good towards the end of the year - and SUMMER 2003 looks awesome. Downtown Las Vegas - just a bunch of tourists on Fremont Street.

------------------
"Running through life at 24 frames per second"

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 09-27-2002, 12:24 AM:

Christopher, I did not knowingly post anything that I knew was BS in this geographic area. If it would not have happened or I had not witnessed it, I would have never posted it. If it comes to pass that anything I said was BS, I would certainly apologize for it. But as for now, I have no apologies.

There are many stories I have heard, but since I could not confirm them, I never posted them because they might have been BS, and that would certainly not help the company, no matter how good or bad the company might be.

However, I must point out that you might be in a different district. Depending on the district, I have heard good things about Regal, and in some others I have heard not-so-good things. Still, in others, I hear nothing but horror stories.

Yes, Christoper. You are correct. One bad apple can ruin the whole bushel. I am very happy to know you have a DM that really cares about their subordinates. He or she definately deserves Kudos!!!

Perhaps Regal should take a long hard close look in those geographic areas to see what is happening where there are so many disgruntled employees. We are in a geographic location that has some of the Nation's largest employers. Seldom do I hear of a disgruntled employee from Boeing, Microsoft, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, or others as well. They all seem to love their jobs. Why is there such a difference? Something is wrong.

Please let it be known I admire you for standing up and saying what you thought had to be said, as well as you defending your DM. That is great, and it is a mark of a true professional!

I wish I could have worked with you and your DM. You have earned my respect.

Even though I have had some bad experiences with Regal, if Regal ever called on me to fix a breakdown and get them back on the screen in this area, I would do that for them. I thought I made that clear to them when I walked out. I don't think I could leave anyone sitting "High and dry" with a "dark house." After all, it is OUR industry.

Thank you.

Respectfully, Paul

Posted by Christopher Duvall (Member # 284) on 09-27-2002, 05:26 AM:

Thanks Paul. You are also absolutly correct about there being problems abound in some areas. Our DM was pulled into Vegas to fix it. For what I know, he has. I was pulled from the east to come here and I had just missed all the crap the went down here. From what I understand Vegas just plain sucked. It now rocks. I would like to say I had something to do about it but it all rests on my DM and surrounding himself with the best people. I do the same thing at my site.

Oh, what was this thread all about...oh yeah. Mike, you should talk to your DM and GM. They would probably like to hear from you directly about this.

As a personal note an not speaking for any chain, I personally do not think it is cool to be working for the competition while still employeed at your original location. There seems to be the whole conflict of interests thing going on there. However, if the theatre you are talking about does not have any competition with your original one take it up with the GM and DM (I know broken record). This is one of those REALLY grey areas. I know at your level there will be no trade secrets going on, but the question of etiquette does come to mind. It just plain seems rude even if the intensions are well meant. Good luck on what you do...

Posted by William Leland III (Member # 1400) on 09-27-2002, 10:12 AM:

The first theater i worked for was a Regal and it was great. Regal in my opinion is one of the best company's to work for. i have worked for Carmike, General Cinema's and i'm working for Consolidated now. ( im also an I-max operator, which is the best company to work for). i think regal treated it's personnel well. i worked there for a year and as a projectionist for 8 months. the management was what made working there great. i have never seen or worked with a greater management team. i still hold my old G.M in high regards. i think that is why i am still in the theatre buss.

when i was at Carmike we never got a raise or treated right. our theater was closing and we all knew about it. but WHEN was the question. we asked our G.M when do we shut our doors for good? and got the corporate BS we don't know, we had to find out in the city paper when we where closing. what kind of crap is that?? also with Carmike we couldn't get overtime or pay raises. not what i call a career job.

to me what makes a theater great are the people you work for and with.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 09-27-2002, 12:20 PM:

I am happy to hear that Regal is taking positive steps to correct some of the problems. I wish them well so they can get the issues resolved.

Posted by Steve Anderson (Member # 364) on 09-27-2002, 09:27 PM:

Chris, when you were in your "Rant Mode" I could have sworn the picture of you started to move....

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 09-27-2002, 10:27 PM:

I think what happens is that Regal is such a HUGE company now that the head office in Knoxville cannot possibly keep up with it all. That is, keep up with it all "effectively" in regards to policy and how people are treated. As with any huge company, a LOT of responsibility is left to the managers, the District managers and the techs. What happens in one state can easily be nothing like what happens in another state. Yet it is entirely possible that neither one has violated company policy. It is that professional trust that the home office must put forth in their people. There will always be bad apples here and there, and it is those few that bring about these kind of rants. As far as I am concerned, this has nothing to do with Regal specifically. ANY company that large WILL have these sort of problems.

BTW, I do applaud you Chris for speaking your mind in such a straightforward, and yet professional manner. Banning? I think not.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 09-28-2002, 09:44 AM:

Regal, from corporate on down is definately not squeeky clean. Heck with all of the the various lock-outs anti-union sentiments from the chains, only Regal incurred the rath of the AFL-CIO proper...most locals were just written off as an obsolete job but somehow Regal distinguished itself beyond the IATSE.

I would say all of the big chains have their sterling areas and have their dumps. Regal would certainly be included in there so it doesn't surprise me that there are many that will speak highly of them.

I must admit, I find more bad examples in big chains than I find good though.

As to a non-management employee working at other theatres, there should be nothing wrong with it. They are paid for the hours worked and should have no concern for what they do on their off time. Most service companies service all of their competitor's theatre and manage to avoid confict of interest. Back in the union operator days, again projectionists could avoid a conflict of interest by performing well for all of the companies. Many cleaning companies seem to do well for multiple theatre chains too.

Steve

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"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"