Brother Andrew

02/25/2006

Brother Andrew,

I appreciate you finally posting a platform. I can understand that you try to look at the Local from a business standpoint. As you have stated "knowledge is power". Unfortunately, after reading your platform, I realize that you have no knowledge of how a union local operates. I broke down most of your proposal and will try to explain to you how an autonomous union local actually functions.

Health Insurance (Andrew's Health insurance plan can be found here)

1) The insurance plan is a one year plan that everyone wants. A 6 month plan was boycotted last November (should've gone to that meeting). A 6 month plan will leave most people uninsured because there isn't enough work. The 6 month plans qualification periods are May-October and November - April. Anyone who knows film business cycles is aware that the work starts to dwindle around Thanksgiving and doesn't pick up again until mid March. That leaves about 2.5 months to qualify for health insurance coverage in the summer.

2) The IA did not accept us into their plan. John Hall had approached them earlier this year.

3) The welfare fund is in such bad shape because the last Trustees did not negotiate a better plan. For over a decade, they ran the same healthcare plan and siphoned money off of the reserve fund.

4) In the next contract negotiation, the BA will have to try to increase our P&W instead of a pay raise - that will affect us for 3 years

5) There is not enough work

6) We have to abide by the ERISA laws when it comes to increases in P&W.

Your Proposal to save administrative costs by merging Locals would be the death to all Locals. The reasons this would be a very bad idea are: (Andrew's proposals regarding merging our local can be found here)

1) As Local 798 Hair and Makeup artists, we are autonomous and have a craft identity

2) Our business Agent negotiates contracts tailored to our specific needs in every state - which differ from a studio mechanic or a grip or camera operator. A Business Agent for a generic (or mixed) Local - as you propose - would not negotiate in any craft’s favor. We would get a generic contract that is not craft/work specific and cheats everyone. Combining locals and crossing craft identity would be like combining 798 with the postal workers or bus drivers union.

3) We would lose the Jurisdiction to the Studio Mechanic Locals in each state.

4) We would lose our pension as the NABET 15 members did in their absorption into 798.

5) We would lose our building – in mergers all assets go to the IATSE (see IATSE constitution)

6) Our contracts would be dropped and our pay would be scaled down. That is the fight now in the Jurisdiction; members are being shortchanged by the Studio Mechanic's contracts, such as the Area Standard Agreement.

7) We would be placed in a generic HMO with no say.

8) You would be out of a job - with your downsizing proposal, the position of 798 Secretary Treasurer - along with the entire Executive Board - would be deleted! (Especially if we were to be absorbed by Local 1).

9) We would never have a chance of quality control in our membership's talent, nor would we be able to offer classes - a Mixed Local does not cater to any individual craft within its body.

Local Charters are given out under the parenthood of the International. Each Local is specifically craft oriented and the Business Agent is responsible for negotiating within the working parameters of that craft. The Business Agent position was just amended constitutionally so an impartial Business Agent could represent the local. The Secretary Treasurer was voted on from within the ranks because we need a person who has full knowledge about how a union and its locals function. They are basically “holding down the fort” to prevent corruption.

Opening up 798's building as a salon. The entire membership is the shareholder of Local 798 Realty. There in itself is a whole host of problems: (Andrew's 798 Hair Salon Proposal can be found here)

1) First of all, how would 1200 members create a steady clientele and how do you propose to delegate a fair work schedule to them?

2) Where would Local 798 get the money to create a high end salon?

3) We would have to maintain liability insurance to cover each of these workers.

4) Under our Constitution and By-laws, no member needs to be licensed to work in a union. This proposal would require all hair and make-up people to get cosmetology and esthetician's licenses necessary to work in the private sector.

5) Most people chose the Local because they do not want to deal with the public.

6) What would we do about Richard Callaghan?

7) We couldn't do this if we merged with another Local

The Real Estate issue has been worked on for several months. There are many factors as to why nothing has been acted upon: (Andrew's proposals regarding our real estate situation can be found here)

1) The Trustees were kind enough not to take action in the destiny of our building. They felt it belonged to the members and should be left to the members to decide what to do with it. Therefore, no decisions or actions can be made until the Executive board is in place and they can present options to the membership.

2) Refinancing the mortgage may be difficult with the lien and a few lawsuits against the building - again, this is only something the Executive Board can act upon.

3) The air rights cannot be utilized until Richard Callaghan's lease expires in 2009.

4) At the membership meeting, we learned that the management/real estate companies were not interested in the building until the Executive Board was in place and official business could be transacted.

5) Contractual bids are pending the December 12th meeting

Thank you for reading my real estate report posted on this site. I wish you had chose to participate in the beginning and will possibly consider assisting us in the future.

Membership Involvement (Andrew's proposals involving membership involvement can be found here)

1) How do you plan to get the membership to come to meetings?

2) The Constitution is being rewritten by the Constitution Committee. The constitution we are following now, has not only been dubbed "illegal" by our Trustees, it has not been updated since 1985.

3) In the Constitution, meetings are held every month. The day has to change from Monday so all members are able to participate. Monday night's meetings are almost impossible for film, television, and even a few Broadway members to attend.

4) The old regime opposed a website, and for that matter truly open communication. That is why www.798members.com was created. Because of the corruption, members wanted to reach the rest of the membership through the Internet, and it was done at members costs - it is not an official site. The Executive Board has to allocate money after they are in place to the Communications Committee. Most of the official website is already outlined and a proposal including costs associated will be made to the new E-Board as soon as it’s in place & official business can be transacted. The committee has been in place & their research completed for some months already. It was commissioned by Trustee John Hall.

Contracts: (Andrew's contract proposals can be viewed here)

1) Every contract is important. Most contracts in the past were negotiated by other Locals since our Business Agent was a no show. We have lost insurmountable benefits because of this such as: vacation pay, early call & night premium, tiered weekend premiums, etc.

2) Most members aren't interested in attending contract negotiation for fear of retribution. If a contract is negotiated right, you will not exactly be the best friend of production.

3) Contract proposals are the BA's responsibility and should be approved by the Executive Board and the Jurisdiction Stewards (after having gone through the negotiations Committee)

All members have felt slighted in Local 798 for many years. We were all without proper representation and had taken to negotiating our own contracts. Over the last 18 months we have worked in ratifying the Local. I see that you have ideas, but you unfortunately are uninformed and should have participated in meetings, committees, and discussions to fully understand the functions of a labor organization and the membership's needs particular to our local. I merely feel that you are not yet qualified to be our Sec/Treasurer because you lack knowledge. If you are sincerely interested, please join a committee and spend time learning about the Local. In three years you can run again with an informed platform.

Fraternally,

Kelly Gleason

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