Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1079787
SPRING 2019 19 D E PA R T M E N T HOW TO ORGANIZE SPRING 2019 19 T H E L O C A L it's worth it. It's really the lack of immediacy that causes people to waver. Most organizing campaigns are months and months of talking. Organizing itself has to be organic and somebody has to be able to go outside their comfort zone. But you start with common threads and among your trusted peers to establish a connection first. WHAT IF THEY'RE A SMALL STUDIO? The size of the studio does not equate to their ability to sign The Animation Guild agreement. It is important to remember that most "small" studios are working for the large studios. Those large studios are signed to the agreement, and are aware of the costs. There are a few smaller and independent studios in Los Angeles signed to the agreement that seem to flourish. Still, every negotiation is different and concessions are possible. The Guild is not out to harm a business partner who can show that there are parts of the agreement they aren't able to handle immediately. DO YOU APPROACH A STUDIO WITH 30 PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY THAN ONE WITH 1,100? With 30 people, I can be that social influencer. It might take me a month and a half but if I push hard enough I can probably get in front of all 30 of those people and be able to get a sense of where they are on the organizing scale— if they're going to sign a representation card and support the effort. Eleven hundred people are going to need more than just me. But the conversations are the same. People want to know what the union can do for them and how much it's going to cost—time, energy and money. Success comes from showing how becoming a union shop not only benefits the crew, but the shop as well. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO? You should act in your own comfort zone. If you're not comfortable with those discussions but you want the studio to unionize, talk to us—to me or to Jason. There are ways we can start the conversations with your peers. I also try and educate people that the relationship with the employer should not be one where you feel indebted or a familial tie. You're in a business relationship and they will drop you like a hot rock if it suits them. When you shake that hand with that, "Congratulations, you've got the job," you are on equal footing with the employer. From that day forward, the employer is trying to improve their standing against you. They're trying to build their power against you. All the union agreement does is reset that power by using the collective. THERE'S OFTEN A PATTERN YOU SEE IN STUDIOS WHEN THEY FIND OUT ARTISTS ARE TRYING TO UNIONIZE. Responses from an employer who is not interested in signing a union agreement are numerous and varied, and all based on the fear the employer has about "going union." Knowing that the employer is making those arguments out of fear is important in countering them. Ultimately the union agreement strives to continue the prosperous relationship between the employer and the crew, while giving the crew the ability to address concerns and issues in a meaningful way. Most employers fear the loss of "control" which equates to having to work with the crew (i.e. union) to enact changes. Countering any anti-union arguments made should be done with that in mind. CONNECT WITH TAG. Reach out to Jason MacLeod (jason.macleod@tag839.org) or Steve Kaplan (steve.kaplan@tag839.org). Learn about the benefits of belonging to the Guild, get your questions answered, ask for advice. START A CONVERSATION. Reach out to co-workers you already have a relationship with and talk to them about the benefits of joining a union. If they are supportive, ask them to spread the word to their base of contacts. SIGN A CARD. Encourage members who support unionizing the studio to sign a representation card that allows the Guild to negotiate on your behalf. Signing a card is completely confidential. FILE A PETITION WITH NLRB. Once enough cards are signed to signify a majority at the studio, the Guild will inform the studio of their intent to file a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to host an election in order to grant the Guild bargaining authority for the artists. CAST YOUR VOTE. Some studios forgo an election and move directly to negotiating a contract; in other instances the NLRB will hold an election to make sure a majority of studio artists support Guild representation. Individual votes are kept secret. NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH. Once support is established through the election results, the Guild will begin contract negotiations with the studio in good faith. CONTRACT IS SIGNED. After a contract is negotiated and agreed upon by the employees, it's signed by the Guild and the studio. Now, the employees are TAG members and subject to agreed upon rights and privileges.