Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/831804
4 PRESIDENT FROM THE PRESIDENT LOCAL LOCAL BUSINESS REPORT FROM THE SECRETARY-TREASURER LETTERS LETTERS TO THE ARTISAN EVENTS CALENDAR OF EVENTS THEATER THEATER NEWS NEWS EXTENDED FAMILY NEWS LOOKS LAST LOOKS NEWS HEALTH AND WELFARE NEWS CREW CREW SHOTS CREDITS PHOTO CREDITS HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS AND SHADOWS EDUCATION EDUCATION GUILD GUILD NEWS The members of our Guild have gone through a lot of changes over the last few years. Although it used to be easier to be a union member, it is now a daily challenge. Where it used to be a forbidden subject in the workplace, this discussion of politics is now com- monplace. We were always told not to discuss politics or religion. The runaway production that started in the late 1990s began to threaten livelihoods, but it finally peaked in the 2000s and the outrage found its voice with the crew members who were losing everything. No longer were we hired because we were the best, others were hired because they worked cheaper and the working conditions in other states and countries were less strin- gent. Some of us began advocacy trips to Sacramento and Washington, D.C., to shake our legislators out of their sleep and let them know how their constituents were in serious trouble. Once quiet and behind the scenes, the IATSE came roaring forward as a new political force, and members woke up and realized we could no longer be apolitical or apathetic. We learned our legislators' names and educated them. They now recognize us and listen. It all paid off in 2014 when we all worked together—labor unions in the entertainment industry, but also as unions we had never thought about—the California Labor Federation, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, the California Building Trades, public-sector unions and even some teachers. Huge numbers stood strong for us and we became a powerful group of voters. Businesses joined together with labor for a united front. Even though we had always been taught to remain quiet about our political beliefs and just work on our artistic crafts, things changed. We could no longer be quiet or keep our heads in the sand. Our artisans became more vocal about what has been happening in this country. We have become more involved and our heads are now out of the sand. We are now more motivated and active, or at least, many are active petition signers on social media. The disgruntled are calling their Senate, Congress, State Senate and Assemblypersons and voicing their opinions. On February 1, 2017, Iowa Congressman Steve King (R-IA) and Joe Wilson (R-SC) intro- duced a bill into the U.S. House of Representatives that would likely deal a crippling blow to already weakened organized labor in the United States: the National Right-to-Work Act (H.R. 825). A Senate counterpart will be introduced shortly. Right-to-work laws lead to lower wages and diminished benefits and working conditions for employees. Right-to-work creates a free-rider problem, whereby employees receive the ben- efits and protections of the union contract without having to pay their share of dues to the union which represented them in negotiating that contract. Prior efforts to enact right-to-work legislation on a national scale stood little chance of success in Congress, and would almost certainly have been subject to President Obama's veto. With Republicans controlling the House and the Senate, and President Trump (who has declared his support for right-to-work) in the White House, right-to-work proponents believe this bill finally may have the requisite support to succeed. Trust that we will fight with everything possible to stop this. I will be traveling to Washington, D.C., in late May as your advocate with U.S. Congresspersons and Senators, and to Sacramento in June. It will certainly be a main focus of the 64th Quadrennial Convention in July. This is where you will come in. Once again, your voices must be heard. Rise up or you will have the right to work for less of everything. SuSan Cabral-EbErt President Supervising Editor JEff angEll Contributing Writers SuSan Cabral-EbErt tommy ColE DaniEl CurEt ranDy SayEr Publisher inglEDoDD mEDia Office Manager Kathy Sain Mailing List Manager DianE burnS The Artisan is published quarterly by Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists, I.A.T.S.E. Local 706, 828 No. Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505 Phone (818) 295-3933. Fax 818-295-3930 All editorial and photo submissions should be sent to email address: susan@ialocal706.org Advertising: IngleDodd Media (310) 207-4410 muahs@IngleDodd.com www.IngleDoddMedia.com Officers of I.A.T.S.E. Local 706 President Susan Cabral-Ebert Vice President Julie Socash Recording Secretary Vanessa Dionne Secretary-Treasurer John E. Jackson Sergeant-at-Arms Barbara Dally Business Representative Tommy Cole Official Magazine of Hollywood Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists. Published in the Interest of ALL the Members of Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists I.A.T.S.E. Local 706