Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1433300
THE ARTISAN WINTER 2022 • 13 meal penalties, nightly turnarounds increased by one hour on all productions, the first-ever 'weekend turnarounds' to curtail "Fraturdays," increased wages on streaming (new media) productions, an additional holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and meaningful "living wage" increases for the lowest paid among us. In return, the employers will be allowed to continue to fully fund our Health & Pension Plans—with no reduction of benefits or increases to qualification hours or premiums for us to pay—and our pre-2009 retirees will continue to receive their 13th and 14th checks. The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, the IATSE, and our Local 706 all supported Gov. Gavin Newsom in his recall election— and union members came out to support him in strong numbers up and down the state—but especially in union strongholds like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Thank you to everyone who exercised their right to vote. You made the difference! Your vote in our statewide election; your vote for the leaders who run your Local; your vote to support your elected officers and your international president; your vote to ratify your contract(s). It all starts with you. You are the union. Please enjoy your issue of The Artisan. Sincerely and in solidarity, Randy Sayer Valued Sisters, Brothers and kin, As my first administration as Business Representative draws to a close, and a new term is set to begin, I must confide that it has been my great privilege and honor to serve the entire membership of IATSE Local 706 for the past 15 years, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue to serve going forward. Hopefully, the global pandemic will soon be in our rear-view mirror, and we can get back to accomplishing what we set out to do two years ago—but we all know now that whatever is thrown at us, we will rise above and get through it. Together. As a union. Thank you for your vote of support. If I was not your choice, I hope to hear from you; if I did receive your vote, I promise to uphold your trust—and continue to support, protect and fight for all of our members going forward, using every honorable means to repre- sent you. Here's to our future… Thank you to each and every member. While I'm at it, thank you to our office manager, Kathy Sain, for her tireless efforts to keep our ship afloat. Kathy's dedication to our members goes well beyond her job. Thank you to our Office staff, Hailey and Linda, for their unwavering support & patience—and their service to our membership. Thank you to Patrice K. Madrigal for steering our 'live events' classifications through the pandemic and being the positive beacon of a 'calming guiding light' during the storm, and thank you to my right arm, Polly Lucke, for everything she does; I could not do this job without her (nor would I want to…). This past month, the 50,000+ IATSE members who earn their living under the Hollywood Basic Agreement, made their voices heard loudly and clearly when 90 percent voted in a nationwide poll—and 98 percent of those votes were YES to give their Strike Vote Authorization to our International President, Matthew D. Loeb! Our own Local had 1,599 (91.4 percent) vote—with 99.6 percent voting YES! This showed overwhelming support and trust for our international president and the Bargaining Committee in our negotiation of the largest contract held by the IATSE, and provided us with unprecedented advocacy and power at the table. This strength allowed us to follow through on our promises and achieve unprecedented positive changes in our contract sought (and fought) over the past decade(s) in regards to meals/breaks and …it has been my great privilege and honor to serve the membership for the past 15 years. " " LOCAL PERSPECTIVE R S Business Representative, I.A.T.S.E. Local 706