#Union Stuff

[a-method-in-it]

Respectfully, striking has never been sold to anyone as a safe, legal way of exerting power (at least in the U.S.; as always, I don't know enough about labor history in other countries to comment).

Strikes and protests have ALWAYS been treated as distinct under the law and in popular consciousness. Strikes don't have First Amendment protections. Strikes have historically been met with huge amounts of violence by private and state security forces.

For context: In 1970, four people were killed during the Kent State protests, and it is still remembered as one of the worst attacks on protesters in U.S. history --- maybe even the worst; I can't find a protest that had a higher death toll from a single day, but I would not be shocked to learn they have happened. But either way, by contrast, take a look at the Wikipedia page for strike-related deaths.

19 deaths. 40 deaths. 30. up to 21 deaths. 30 or more. 20-30.

There are more legal restrictions on the ability of capital-owners to enact violence on strikers than there used to be, but "strikes" themselves are not some watered-down version of more direct forms of action. They are, as they have always been, direct challenges to capitalists. And to those people, they are not a "substitute for sabotage" --- they are sabotage.

Which is to say that the NYPD are not doing anything new here. Police in the North were by and large created for just this sort of purpose, in fact, in the same way that early police forces grew out of slave patrols.

For a long time, strikes had more political support, and in NYC they still do, tbh. I've been on multiple picket lines where city council members are eager to show up and demonstrate their support for organized labor.

But cops? Cops have always busted unions, have always arrested strikers. They just aren't allowed to shoot us anymore.

[a-method-in-it]

You know that Chris Fleming line that goes "Call yourself a community organizer even though you're not on speaking terms with your roommates"?

I honestly think every leftist who talks about the "revolution" like Christians talk about the rapture needs to spend a year trying to organize their workplace. Anyone who sincerely talks about building a movement so vast and all-encompassing that it overwhelms all existing power structures needs the dose of humility that comes with realizing they can't even build a movement to get people paid better at a badly run AMC Theaters where everyone already hates the manager.

[karlicartoons]

ANIMATION FANS, WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!

Yesterday, the day before Lightbox Expo, over 800 TAG members marched to Netflix’ headquarters & delivered a petition demanding the AMPTP keep animation jobs union, agree to AI protections, & more. SHOW THE AMPTP YOU STAND WITH ANIMATION!!

Sign your name next to the people that make the shows you love: animationguild.org/tagpetition

WE REALLY REALLY REALLY NEED YOUR SUPPORT!! Over the years, I have been asked by numerous fans how they can help us keep the animation industry from collapsing. Taking this action now will directly help our fight! I’m on The Animation Guild’s negotiations committee this year. I have been in the conference call with the AMPTP.

They do not see us as human.

They want us to lose our jobs, our homes, and our entire livelihoods.

They want to REPLACE ALL OF US and give YOU AI-generated slop, because they do not fucking care about this industry.

PLEASE HELP!!

[thelaurenshippen]

HAPPY LABOR DAY if you're an audio drama writer (whether established or aspiring) you should join the wga audio alliance discord - you don't have to be in the union to join, just come hang out and stay up to date on the organizing we're doing in the space!

and remember: it's illegal for anyone hiring you to tell you you can't discuss wages, so always share whatever information you want with your peers

[isawiitch]

ok folks time to start rallying for The Animation Guild union stuff

Nickelodeon Production Workers are asking for signatures on this petition to put more pressure lon employers regarding their unwillingness to negotiate further on long expired contract, which now includes the newly unionized Production Workers (previously only covered Artists).

[anderswasrightt]

i show up to your house to speak to you about a serious matter, but instead of pulling out an FBI badge, i show u this bad boy:

[autogynocelia]

Feeling cute in da board room

[elwingflight]

Okay so people have been talking a lot about why a movie/TV boycott is a bad idea and you shouldn’t do it (actors/writers need those residuals right now, we want to keep demand high, etc). And I’ve got to say as a union organizer that while all of those points may well be valid they are also... really not the point.

There isn’t a boycott because the striking workers have not called for a boycott. This is not about you! This is about the WGA and SAG-AFTRA’s strategic decisions! They might call for a boycott at some point if this is dragging out and they think it might help, and in that case you should be ready to boycott then!!! (Notice the language they have been using: “Neither the WGA or SAG-AFTRA is calling for a consumer boycott right now” (emphasis added by me). They’re absolutely leaving open the possibility of calling for a boycott in the future).

What matters here is centering whatever the unions are actually asking for, not what you think you/other fans should do, and recognizing that they know how their industry works and are choosing the strategy they are for a reason. Unions in general, and strikes in particular, succeed when people are on the same page about their tactics and are committed to working together. They’re not a fuck-the-man free-for-all.

So! Obviously your personal media consumption choices are ultimately your own, but lets keep in mind that there absolutely is not a call for a boycott right now, without dismissing the idea that their could be a boycott, yeah?

[shannonsketches]

So. As much as I want to blame Tumblr for these annoying-ass ads, to my knowledge, Tumblr is not scabbing, because tumblr is not a part of the WGA or SAG, nor is tumblr an individual.

Advertisers still advertise struck companies' work because they are unaffiliated with the unions or with the AMPTP. What SAG said was that any Person who takes money to promote a struck company (influencers, streamers, comedians, etc) will be blacklisted from ever joining the union.

Both SAG and the WGA have reminded the class to not participate in consumer boycotts, because the AMPTP can and will use the numbers drop as an excuse for why they can't pay their workers. We want advertisers to advertise because viewership can be rubbed in the AMPTP's face.

Scabbing is when you take money to do the work of a striking union member who would otherwise normally do it. To the best of my knowledge, Tumblr is not union. Or a person.

We can't, shouldn't, and will not be -- as individuals -- taking money from struck companies to do the work a SAG/WGA member would normally be doing. Tumblr is not an individual taking money from the AMPTP to promote struck work. It's a neutral company advertising like any other platform.

You are 100% Allowed to support One Piece and any other show/movie/etc that comes up. You are allowed to make fanart and watch shows. You (the individual) are NOT allowed to make paid content or advertisements on behalf of the studio. Tumblr is not an individual.

Feel 10000% Free to correct me on this. But I am union and this is my understanding of what constitutes scabbing, based on conversations with peers in my union and those in my sister unions.

I'll tell you what they told us, if you're young or you don't know if you're allowed to talk about shows/movies/etc or do fanart or whatever -- know that you are, and you are encouraged to do so. As it was told to me, "If it's not something a WGA/SAG member would otherwise be contracted and paid to do, it's not considered scabbing"

I will say though, Tumblr is unique in how awful they make anything that might otherwise be good. I really want to enjoy One Piece and @staff is making me absolutely fucking hate it with these nonstop push ads.

[agent-bash]

You’re a union member correct? What do you think of the double strike, and some of the confusion being caused with things like con appearances?

I am. Obviously, it's a very different union, but yes I am a member of a union.

I fully support the double strike. I don’t think any of either union’s demands are unreasonable or unnegotiable, if it's met with good faith. Particularly regarding the use of AI. And the more the AMPTP talks trying to defend themselves and their stances, the harder I roll my eyes.

It’s always important to remember when/if you’re struggling to get behind WGA and SAG-AFRTA and their demands for money and the like, is that the union represents all members, while we tend to immediately think of the severe minority. Not everyone in the union is pulling in millions or even hundreds of thousands for every appearance they make. Not every tv actor is getting paid a million dollars per episode like the core 3 from TBBT did. Most of them aren't. Unions are fighting for that dude you’re distracted by in the background because you swear you’ve seen him before. Or that woman whose voice is so familiar even though she only spoke two sentences in the movie you're watching. The majority of SAG-AFRTA members don’t even make enough to qualify for the union's health insurance plan. So yeah, a good thing to keep in mind.

As to cons, if it were me, there’s no confusion; they’re a no-go. Because, like it or not, conventions, meet and greets etc., do promote the shows/studios that the union is striking against. Even if it's not a studio-involved appearance, like San Diego Comic-Con, the real target of that rule. Actors can't promote at all. Even unofficially. And that's exactly what this convention is. Unofficial promotion. It's why this stuff isn't usually in actors' contracts. Because studios see them as free promotions. They don't have to pay actors to appear, and it has the chance to draw eyes to their shows or movies. Win-Win for them.

Then there are the photos for the meet and greets. People are going to tag the show on their socials. Either the shows Insta directly or in the tags. That's more promotion. And while I don't think that is something that can/should be held against the actors in an official capacity, a) it could be, and b) if it were me, I'd feel like a scab.

There's also thinking of it from a fan perspective. They can't talk about the show. A large part of the reason people are there. People are (rightly) curious about their takes on the show. The characters they play. Where the next season is going to go. Or, in the case of Jesse, Nick and Torrey, what they think their characters' are getting up to off-screen. They can't answer any of those questions. They can't talk about upcoming projects they may have been in prep for. Even generic career day-like questions, like 'How did you get into acting,' carry an element of risk in answering. So what's left to ask? 'Top things to do in Chicago?' 'What is your favourite hidden gem restaurant?' 'Jesse, what golf course do you most want to play?' Not anything the majority - even of fans who show up for events like this - care about. So I'd feel like an ass, asking fans to pay money to not get an actual convention experience.

[a-method-in-it]

I don't want to take away people's space to feel how they feel about the state of...well, you know. But I will say:

It is very easy to feel powerless in the face of capitalism. It is a huge system, propped up by forces much more powerful than any of us individually, and the impact that you can have as a single, atomized individual acting alone is almost nil. I get why people feel despair.

But actually? There are things you can do. And the first is to get organized.

There are lots of ways to do that, but if we're talking capitalism, the best way is to unionize (I have a basic how-to guide on that here).

You alone can't do much. You getting a group together can do a lot. I know, because I've seen it, personally, firsthand, what it looks like when a workplace bands together.

And yes, the impact of your personal contribution will mainly be about one workplace, but it all feeds into a larger picture.

My union dues (and those of my colleagues) feed into a bigger organization that then is able to hire more staff to support more union drives, or bulk up the strike fund so people across my local are able to truly flex our power to withhold labor.

I train union stewards, people who will go on to take over leadership positions in our shop one day or will take those skills to other jobs --- one of the things I'm proudest of, honestly, is training a woman who then left and was on the organizing committee at her next workplace, which is now unionized --- or even take them to other movements entirely.

I teach people their rights as workers and make sure they feel empowered to speak up about issues in our workplace.

We are part of the labor movement. We are one of the many wrenches that the movement is throwing into the gears of capitalism.

It's tempting to think that unionizing is something done by other people, special people, people not like you. This is a lie. Every union ever was founded by ordinary people who were just plain fed up enough to try to do something about it. You can be one of them.

There is no barrier to entry for being a wrench.

is anyone else just like. constantly filled with rage about their position under late capitalism and how we are expected to just keep playing this game that we know will literally kill us, is already killing people all over the world, and yet everyone around us is somehow fine with going about business as usual, with pretending we are free by being able to choose between different ways of being exploited. there is nothing more dehumanising than being forced to partake in a system that is actively detrimental to our survival as human beings, that is so physically, psychologically and spiritually destructive, and i don’t know how to deal with this anger anymore

[a-method-in-it]

Just saw that walmart post and i was wondering. Any tips for consumers to help further push union aid? All i really know is donating to the cause and applying to be a scab and not showing to make it harder for them to find actual scabs

So donating is always awesome! (Especially to strike funds).

Sending pizza or other food to picket lines is also always appreciated and helps boost morale. If there's a picket line happening in your area, you can also join them, or just honk in support as you drive by. Feeling like the community is behind you can help people stand strong and stay united for the cause.

Also, unions will sometimes ask for public shows of support, such as asking customers to sign an open letter or show up to non-picket events to publicly show support --- Starbucks Workers United, for instance, has had several "Sip-Ins" in the last couple years where they ask customers to come in with supportive signs and hang out.

In fact, I recommend anyone looking for ways to support unions to get on the supporter mailing list for Starbucks Workers United --- they will definitely tell you what to do to support any unionized stores in your area.

And one other campaign I'll mention that's timely as I write this in November 2023: If you are flying Delta in the near future (or just, like, ever), ask for a supporter kit from the AFA to support the Delta flight attendants in unionizing! They will send you a button declaring yourself a supporter and some little cards with info for flight attendants on how to sign a union card, if it seems like any flight attendant on your flight is interested. And either way, it's really encouraging for any flight attendant who supports the union drive to see customers expressing solidarity.

Finally, sometimes unions will also ask for support for more general labor issues, like the PRO Act (somehow still not passed because fuck Kyrsten Sinema), or even just stuff that would help workers in their industry. Strippers United, for instance, has a petitions page. So supporting those causes or calling your representatives about labor issues can do a lot.

[karlicartoons]

NOW THE WRITERS NEED YOUR HELP!!

May 10, 2023

THE WRITER'S GUILD OF AMERICA IS ON STRIKE!! The WGA was negotiating with the AMPTP (the firm that represents ALL STUDIOS) for a few weeks until their contract expired. If they would have reached an agreement, the strike would not have happened. They did not reach an agreement, and their contract expired, so they were able to go on strike!

FUCK the AMPTP!!! Animation workers carried their asses through COVID, and studios have reported RECORD PROFITS in the years since! They don't want to share any of that with the people who MADE THE CONTENT THEY PROFIT OFF OF.

WHAT ARE THEIR DEMANDS???

They're very reasonable, actually. Naturally, the studios refuse to do the right thing, and compensate them fairly for their time. They're totally content with letting us all starve and waste away while they get to buy their third yacht, or whatever. It's awesome :D

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP??

I'm so glad you asked!!! SIGN THIS PETITION TO SAY YOU STAND WITH THE WRITERS!

Consider donating to the Entertainment Community Fund to support the striking writers!

You can form a picket with just one other friend to help shut down any production anywhere in the country! JUST TWO PEOPLE were able to shut down a Marvel production because they were picketing, and Teamsters refused to cross the picket line. All it took was their refusal to cross one time, and the whole production shut down. You can do this WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE UNITED STATES! YOU CAN REFUSE TO CROSS A PICKET LINE REGARDLESS OF UNION STATUS AND BE PROTECTED FEDERALLY!

Definitely share this around, as well as these resources, to help get everyone educated :] Solidarity!

[thelaurenshippen]

Can you tell me if Bridgewater is a struck show? Or could we ask Misha about it at a convention? I’ve had two people tell me different things so I’m unsure.

hey!! as far as I understand the SAG strike rules (as a SAG actor myself) I don't think Bridgewater counts as a struck show.

I've seen a lot of confusion/misinformation on tumblr about this, so I'm gonna take this opportunity to quickly explain the rules as they've been communicated to me as both a SAG actor and a producer of SAG podcasts.

the current SAG strike is for the TV/film contract, which means that struck work includes all television and film, whether on-camera or voice acting. there have been interim agreements issued to certain studios that allow actors to work and promote their work, but in general, actors are not allowed to do any TV or film work, including promotion!

however, this strike does not apply to other contracts that aren't TV/film. these contracts include: podcasts, video games, commercials, audiobooks, and others (though SAG is voting on striking video games at the end of this month). any work done under those contracts can be promoted!

SAG has great infographics on all of that here. now, there is a gray area that comes up when we consider struck companies. this is a term I've seen a lot in conversations around the WGA strike, where we use it to refer to companies like disney, netflix, paramount, etc. etc. - companies that we're striking against entirely, regardless of medium. that has been the spirit of solidarity in the wga audio alliance - even though fiction podcasts can be worked on during the strike, we're not working with companies that are being struck against, which includes even meeting with those people. though there hasn't been specific discussion around this from the union directly, I have personally extended this to the SAG strike - for instance, I made a show for netflix a few years back and have a tumblr ask sitting in my inbox about it and won't answer until the strike is over!

so, my logic: Bridgewater is under a SAG podcast contract and is a production of Grim & Mild and iHeart, neither of which are struck companies for either SAG or the WGA (unless I'm seriously out of the loop on something). I can't speak to what Misha will feel about it, but I'm certainly happy and comfortable to talk about Bridgewater.

I hope that answers (perhaps over answers!) your question! if you go to a convention, say hi to Misha for me!

[a-method-in-it]

Acting is an inherently precarious profession and one where most people are massively underpaid. The only people who are not are those who have achieved such name recognition that the studios see them as someone who can draw in viewers; everyone else is seen as interchangeable and studios will try to pay them accordingly.

The glamor in Hollywood is a performance, a projection, an aesthetic. Like everything else, at the end of the day, Hollywood is run by billionaires on the cold, hard logic of late stage capitalism.

Solidarity with actors, writers, and working people everywhere.

"writers deserve attention more than actors" literally only 2% of actors can pay the bills with acting. For every megastar on screen there are a dozen other people in the shot who are SAG. Acting gets so glamorized but there are SO MANY people in SAG who NEED residuals to live on. Background Party Girl #4 needs her check too!!!! There are people who play recurring characters on syndicated shows who cant afford health insurance!!! Ke Huy Quan gave an oscar winning performance and LOST HIS HEALTH INSURANCE the next year.

[anderswasrightt]

THIS IS ILLEGAL. you have every right to discuss your wages and work conditions with your coworkers. in fact, you SHOULD do so often. when i worked at the place that had the policy above, i was hired at a rate that was $2 more than the most senior kitchen staff, and the manager did NOT want people to know that.

aside from breaking labor laws, the place was terrible, so i quit after a day and told everyone how much i'd been hired at. :)