SAG 1st VP Johnson: “Is It A 2% World?”

COMMENTS (5)

• This year, SAG will be in the black, 300k.

  Next year, SAG will be in the red 5 million dollars.

  So, our current N.E.D., David White was sort of… cornered, and asked, “what the hell is up with that? We think we know what is up with that, but you are really the official to officially tell us what is up with that.”

  So, White hems “Well, it’s complicated, due to…”

  He haws “You know that drop in revenue has a number of…”

  And finally he sings like a nightingale, “The loss of the TV pilots. That’s why.”

  So, in their twisted world view, and in response to this information, here’s what UFS and merger-zombies will say:

  All the more reason to merge!

  How do we solve this problem? Merge.

  How do we clean the Gulf? Merge.

  How do we get out of Iraq and Afghanistan? Merge.

  World hunger? Merge.

  Not, of course, the truth, which is, “David White, Ken Howard and Amy Aquino have had one plan, and one plan only since taking control of the union – weaken SAG to the point it has to merge with AFTRA. The reality is, these officials who have a fiduciary responsibility to the membership of SAG – not AFTRA, and not the AMPTP, have been giving away the store from day one on their watch.

  So, some say “How can they stop the producers from giving all the TV pilots to AFTRA?!”

  And then the people who know the law respond “Because the TV pilots are already SAG’S jurisdiction, it already is the law, but you can’t enforce the law unless you file a Unit Clarification Claim with the NLRB, saying, ‘Hey! AFTRA is being awarded all TV jurisdiction by the AMPTP, which we think is colluding with AFTRA to create the manufactured impression that there is an ALL TV (AFTRA) – all movies (SAG) divide, so, it only strengthens the argument for merger.’ ”

  Now, ladies and gentlemen, any reading this, or copying and pasting it or pulling their hair out, or having seizures, let’s all be adults, and let’s all be totally, completely honest with each other, o.k.?

  The current moderate-government of SAG has actively stripped SAG like a Caddy left on 158th street with the keys in it, to allow AFTRA to have all TV jurisdiction, to help the argument that “splitting P&H, initiation fees, dues, ” etc, is koo-koo crazy!!! and we must merge!!!!!!!!”

  But, of course, this is a new development, that has been facilitated only by the current moderate government of SAG. 2 years ago? SAG had 95% of all jurisdiction. So, when you “did all these jobs where I split my P&H, I have to join both unions, double dues, etc.” you were in a situation where that happened about… 5% of the time. Not good, not fun, not fair, but, the answer then, as now, is to get AFTRA out of SAG jurisdiction, not merge with a weak union that has an actors unit – 99% of whom are also SAG actors – as well as a broadcasters and recording artists wing. That’s a dumb idea. It’s been dumb for 60 years. And it’s still dumb. AFTRA is like Glen Close in “Fatal Attraction.” Do we have to stab her in the bathtub?

  “I’m not going to be IGNORED!”

  O.K. scary lady. Please go away?

  But now, August 2010? The “plan” has worked like a charm. All TV goes to AFTRA. 2011? Merge.

  But, any honest actor interested in a strong, vibrant, protective, accomplished, long-standing union, you know, like SAG, would have to ask him or herself “Why wouldn’t our own N.E.D., President and Secretary Treasurer say a single word about the theft of these pilots by AFTRA, if SAG already has that jurisdiction, and why wouldn’t these very same people immediately issue a Unit Clarification Claim with the NLRB to get back what belongs to SAG?

  Since method of capture (digital, film, videotape) is not the determining factor?

  It is the “unit of workers,” and, as in the past, the NLRB, had the claim been filed, (still can) would say to AFTRA (by the way, the NLRB hates AFTRA, because they have been having to tell them to fuck off SAG jurisdiction for decades) – they’d ask:

  “Can you prove that digital requires a different worker unit and therefore a different bargaining unit? (AFTRA)”

  And AFTRA’s lawyers would say “blee, bloo, blah, ner, nippy, plee, tuck!”

  And the NLRB would say “get the fuck out of here and don’t come back.”

  And we’d have referendum on which union actors wish to represent them, SAG or AFTRA, and the results would come back 90% or more for SAG, and we’d have one union, one set of dues, one P&H program, one initiation fee, at the one union for all TV and MOVIE actors -

  THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD.

  Now, honestly, any actors reading this, why in God’s name, do you want to be led by these liars into a producer-compliant union that never strikes and watch the slow steady loss of the wages, working conditions, benefits, – and the must-have participation in new media – the new union for a new world will never get, the kind of deals our predecessors spent their lives sacrificing to gain, for you?

  At SAG? Why?

  Comment by SAG hag — Wednesday August 11, 2010 @ 9:20am PDT  Reply to this post

  • Unfortunately there were several of us in SAG who sent registered letters to the Membership First leadership of SAG when they controlled things demanded that they sue to stop the AFTRA takeover of non live TV which is SAG’s exclusive jurisidiction regardless of format (tAPE, FILM, DIGITAL TAPE OR HOCKEYPUCK).

    Memebership First refused to file the lawsuit or anything.

    Membership First are the ones who refused to stop AFTRA – not the recent UFS leaders. If MF had sued two years ago or more when we demanded it under the obligations they had to protect the members then this past season of AFTRA shows would never have taken place.

    UFS may or may not have tried to protect SAG jurisidiction but the full season scrape off that went to AFTRA THIS year was set up long before UFS even held a chair on the board and it happened under Membership First
    jurisdiction.

    I know. I am one of the people who sent a letter to SAG demanding they defend SAG jurisdiction from AFTRA regardless of the potential for a merger.

    Comment by Geo — Thursday September 23, 2010 @ 10:07pm PDT  Reply to this post

• I ve been a member of 3 unions. This was a very well put letter. Think about what you give and balance with the other side. With so many isms floating around we need protection. Without it u will slave without anything to show for it. Remember unions come in because of problems, no fair factory has ever been unionized, same for hollywood.

  Comment by kim — Wednesday August 11, 2010 @ 9:36am PDT  Reply to this post

• I like her.

  Comment by Bryan — Wednesday August 11, 2010 @ 11:12am PDT  Reply to this post

• This year, SAG will be in the black, 300k.

  Next year, SAG will be in the red 5 million dollars.

  Don’t believe me? Let’s put it this way. Believe me.

  So, our current NED, David White was sort of… cornered, and asked, “what the hell is up with that? We think WE know what is up with that, but YOU are really the official to OFFICIALLY tell us what is up with that.”

  So, White hems “Well, it’s complicated, due to…”

  He haws “You know that drop in revenue has a number of…”

  And finally he sings like a nightingale, “The loss of the TV pilots. That’s why.”

  So, in their twisted world view, and in response to this information, here’s what UFS and merger-zombies will say:

  ALL THE MORE REASON TO MERGE!

  Not, of course, the truth, which is, “David White, Ken Howard and Amy Aquino have had one plan, and one plan only since taking control of the union – weaken SAG to the point it HAS to merge with AFTRA. The REALITY is, these officials who have a fiduciary responsibility to the membership of SAG – NOT AFTRA, and NOT THE AMPTP, have been GIVING AWAY THE STORE FROM DAY ONE ON THEIR WATCH.

  So, some say “How can THEY stop the producers from giving all the TV pilots to AFTRA?!”

  And then the people who know the LAW can respond “Because the TV pilots are ALREADY SAG’S jurisdiction, it already IS THE LAW, but you can’t ENFORCE the law unless you file a Unit Clarification Claim with the NLRB, saying, “HEY! AFTRA is being awarded ALL TV jurisdiction by the AMPTP, which we think is colluding with AFTRA to create the FALSE impression that there is an ALL TV (AFTRA) – all movies (SAG) divide, so, it only strengthens the argument for merger.”

  Now, ladies and gentlemen, any reading this, or copying and pasting it or pulling their hair out, or having seizures, let’s all be adults, and let’s all be totally, completely honest with each other, o.k.?

  The current moderate-government of SAG has ACTIVELY stripped SAG like a Caddy left on 158th street with the keys in it, to allow AFTRA to have all TV jurisdiction, to help the argument that “splitting P&H, initiation fees, dues, ” etc, is Koo-Koo CRAZY!!! and we MUST merge!!!!!!!!”

  But, of course, this is a NEW development, that has been facilitated ONLY by the current moderate government of SAG. 2 years ago? SAG had 95% of ALL jurisdiction. So, when you “did all these jobs where I split my P&H, I have to join both unions, double dues, etc.” you were in a VERY SMALL minority – a minority NOT WORTH CHALLENGING AFTRA’S POACHING OF SAG’S 95% of ALL jurisdiction WITH THE NLRB.

  NOW? The “plan” has worked like a charm. All TV goes to AFTRA. MERGE.

  But, any HONEST actor interested in a strong, vibrant, protective, accomplished, long-standing union, you know, like SAG, would HAVE to ask him or herself “WHY wouldn’t our OWN NED, President and Secretary Treasurer say a SINGLE WORD about the theft of these pilots by AFTRA IF SAG already HAS that jurisdiction, and WHY wouldn’t these very same people IMMEDIATELY issue a Unit Clarification Claim with the NLRB to GET BACK WHAT BELONGS TO SAG?

  SINCE METHOD OF CAPTURE (digital, film, videotape) IS NOT THE DETERMINING FACTOR.

  IT IS THE UNIT OF WORKERS, and, as in the past, the NLRB, had the claim been filed (it STILL CAN – it’s NOT TOO LATE IF WE DEMAND IT AND NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER) – the NLRB would say to AFTRA (by the way, the NLRB HATES AFTRA, because they have been having to tell them to fuck off SAG jurisdiction for DECADES) – they’d ask:

  “CAN YOU PROVE THAT DIGITAL REQUIRES A DIFFERENT WORKER UNIT AND THEREFORE A DIFFERENT BARGAINING AGENT (AFTRA)”

  And AFTRA’s lawyers would say “blee, bloo, blah, ner, nippy, plee, tuck!”

  And the NLRB would say “GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE – AND DON’T COME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

  AND we’d have ONE union, ONE set of dues, ONE P&H program, ONE initiation fee, at the ONE union for ALL TV and MOVIE actors

  THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD.

  Now, HONESTLY, any actors reading this, WHY in God’s name, do you want to be led by these LIARS into a producer-compliant union that NEVER strikes and watch the slow steady loss of the wages, working conditions, benefits, – and the MUST-HAVE participation in new media – the NEW UNION will NEVER GET, the kind of deals our predecessors spent THEIR LIVES sacrificing to gain, for YOU?

  AT SAG? WHY?

  Comment by neener — Thursday August 12, 2010 @ 1:32pm PDT  Reply to this post