Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1500728
Summer 2023 – LOCAL695.COM 9 NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS On May 2, after weeks of stalled negotiations, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) initiated a worker strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP). The right to strike is fundamental to the labor movement. Local 695 stands in support of the WGA and its members. All workers are entitled to work under a contract that includes fair compensation and working conditions. IATSE contracts are still in effect and you are not required to withhold work services from your employer. However, choosing to honor a lawful picket line is your right. If you work under the IATSE Basic Agreement, Area Standards Agreement, New York Production Locals Agreements, the Low Budget Theatrical Agreement, the Videotape Electronics Supplemental Agreement, or the Commercial Production Agreement, you are not required to cross the picket line if you so choose not to. That said, if you do intend to withhold services in honor of a picket line, you must email your employer and declare that you will not be reporting to work out of respect for the picket line. Failure to do so could result in THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA STRIKE The IATSE provides a multitude of continuing education opportunities for its members. LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda. com) is an excellent source of online training tutorials covering topics such as Avid Pro Tools, Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, After Effects, Illustrator, Rhino, Vectorworks, Final Cut Pro, Filemaker, AutoCad, Cubase, Logic Pro, Shot Put Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Vegas Pro, as well as Project Management, Software Development, Network Administration, Finance and Accounting, Marketing and much more. All IATSE members are eligible to sign IATSE EDUCATION a declaration of job abandonment and can result in lawful job termination. Furthermore, it has been brought to our attention that studios have been calling IATSE members and asking if they are willing to cross picket lines in order to come to work. This line of questioning is illegal, and you are not required to answer these questions. In fact, we recommend that you refuse to answer and then please report the call to the Local immediately. It is important to report these calls to us so that we can report this to the IATSE, who will contact the employer and let them know they are in violation of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 and remind them that they should not be pressuring IATSE members in this manner. Please call the office immediately to report that you have been asked these questions, and don't hesitate to call and ask to speak to one of your Representatives if you have questions relating to crossing the picket line or if your production is impacted by the strike. up for a free LinkedIn Learning Account by visiting https://www. iatsetrainingtrust.org/lil. You can also view a multitude of free educational webinars sponsored by the IA Training Trust Fund online at www.gotostage. com/channel/iaeducationforall. These webinars cover a range of topics from labor and voting rights; the basics of equity, diversity, and inclusion; mental health subjects such as depression, substance abuse; physical safety and well-being at work; and so much more.