Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1014407
67 Q3 2018 / CINEMONTAGE retirement. The Supreme Court's decision directly overturns a decision made by the Court in 1977. This shameful decision only serves to strengthen our resolve to find ways to protect working families in this country." WGA East Press Release: "We should harbor no illusions about this terrible decision: It was the product of raw power politics, not constitutional deliberation. The Koch brothers and their hard-right-wing allies have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in recent decades to undermine the ability of working Americans to fight for themselves, to have a voice on the job, to win terms and conditions of employment that make it possible to support a family and pay the bills. Score one for the plutocrats, who have won an ugly victory at the expense of the people who build our roads and teach our children and fight our fires." Actors' Equity Executive Director Mary McColl: "The Supreme Court issued a decision that is a blatant attempt to take away the freedom of working people to join together in union. Equity stands with our brothers and sisters across the country who are fighting against a system that is rigged in favor of special interests and big corporations. We will organize. We will hold our elected officials accountable. And we will fight back against efforts to divide us. Every working American has had their lives made better by labor unions. We will not rest while the American worker is being attacked." The final word should go to Siobhan Dugan, who wrote a Letter to the Editor in The Washington Post. She wrote, "Mark Janus doesn't want to belong to a union or pay 'agency fees' to the union to cover collective bargaining costs. All well and good, but one would hope that he will avoid the hypocrisy of accepting any raises or taking advantage of benefits that result from the collective bargaining he hasn't paid for." JERRY BROWN KEEPS CA TAX CREDITS ALIVE UNTIL 2025 With just a few months to go before his successor is elected, California Governor Jerry Brown in late June bestowed a gift to Hollywood with the signing of his last round of legislation to continue a $330 million film and television tax credit program, writes Dominic Patten in Deadline Hollywood. While signing the $201 billion budget in Los Angeles, Brown commented obliquely on the extension of the program until 2025. "When I took office back in 2011 with the state facing a $27 billion deficit, I pledged to work with the legislature to fix California's financial mess," the governor said as the budget and SB 871, which extends the tax credits, were signed. "Today, the final budget I sign delivers on that pledge and prepares us for the future." The $100-million-a-year program, begun in 2009, was never a stated priority for Brown, who has been famously focused on Northern California. It succeeded in avoiding blockbusters and emphasized employment. The program, adds Patten, has been steadily bringing production back home to Hollywood from other states and countries. NETFLIX FIRES CCO OVER RACIAL SLUR The chief executive of Netflix fired the company's chief communications officer in late June after he "showed unacceptably low racial awareness and sensitivity" in using a racial epithet in the workplace, according to a company memo, it was reported by Christopher Mele in The New York Times. The chief executive, Reed Hastings, recognized the contributions of the communications officer, Jonathan Friedland, saying he helped to strengthen Netflix's brand around the world and helped make it successful. But that accomplishment was not enough to outweigh his workplace behavior. "Unfortunately, his lack of judgment in this area was too big for him to remain," Hastings wrote. LABOR MAT TERS California Governor Jerry Brown signs a budget bill as he is joined by, from left, Assembly member Phil Ting, Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and budget chair Senator Holly Mitchell in Los Angeles in June. Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP