How do you start a Union? again.. =/

[R_P_A_S]

About a year or so ago... I either replied to a thread or posted one in which I asked "how do I start a union" I was provided with great feedback and even a link to a web site. I searched for about 20 mins on the forum for the thread and I can't find that info. I was hoping someone could help me out and provide this info again.

The union I want to start is one for "P.A's" (production assistants) in the entertainment industry. We work for free or if we are lucky we get a minimum wage "paid internship" with no sick pay, or any benefits for months to years for a multi-million dollar entertainment industry..

thanks

[mikelepore]

If it's in the U.S., the info to search for is union certification by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

[bruce]

Do you get extensive catered meals or is that reserved for the *talent*?

[manic expression]

Nothing Human Is Alien posted these helpful links in another thread:

http://www.ueunion.org/org_steps.html (http://www.anonym.to/?http://www.ueunion.org/org_steps.html)

http://www.iww.org/en/organize (http://www.anonym.to/?http://www.iww.org/en/organize)

Good luck!

[Invincible Summer]

About a year or so ago... I either replied to a thread or posted one in which I asked "how do I start a union" I was provided with great feedback and even a link to a web site. I searched for about 20 mins on the forum for the thread and I can't find that info. I was hoping someone could help me out and provide this info again.

The union I want to start is one for "P.A's" (production assistants) in the entertainment industry. We work for free or if we are lucky we get a minimum wage "paid internship" with no sick pay, or any benefits for months to years for a multi-million dollar entertainment industry..

thanks

If what you're saying is true (not accusing you of lying - just wondering if it's an isolated case or a common occurence), then that's horrendous! Talk about exploitation...

[Reclaimed Dasein]

I don't really know much about it but I've seen several advertisements trying to push through the fair choice act that somehow makes it easier to organize a union. I'm trying to decide whether or not it's worth supporting. If anyone knows a little more about this than please let me know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employee_Free_Choice_Act

[Bilan]

I think you might be referring to the thread in the Class Struggle Unionists group.
If not, we've put some information in there to help out comrades starting a union.

[R_P_A_S]

Do you get extensive catered meals or is that reserved for the *talent*?

well sometimes we can get some food, if theres an abundance of it.

[R_P_A_S]

If what you're saying is true (not accusing you of lying - just wondering if it's an isolated case or a common occurence), then that's horrendous! Talk about exploitation...

its actually some of the worst exploitation and theft of wages out there. specially for the amount of money the bosses generate. here are three great examples.

1. keep you on as in internet, with no limited hours per day or week. with no pay or compensation what so ever. interns in production houses and recording studios do task from cleaning the bathrooms, filing, running errants and even handyman work. All this with the notion that your hard work might get you an entry level position within that studio. with no guarantee.

2. minimum wage with highly monitor no overtime policy. you perform task that an administrative assistant gets 15 dollars an hour for, to multiple jobs and responsibilities to ensure the flow of the studio with out having to hire a manager or even janitorial help. again.. all this with no guarantee evaluation or raise.

3. studios to avoid providing benefits and over time pay only hire you for jobs if you are an independent contractor. sometimes if you ask for more, you will not be called again. and being that theres only 3 major studios left.. its a small town and your reputation is tarnish by the studio owners.

[R_P_A_S]

ok guys. I put forward an ad calling for people who would like to come to a meeting to discuss our cause and organizing. =)

[DirectAction]

Depends what you mean by a union. A union traditionally is just workers taking collective agreements, it all comes down to whether you think theres any merit in joining a recognised union and/or if theres potential to join a redical union.