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NBC’s The Biggest Loser completed its first day of filming while picketed by some 50 striking crew members. The show’s two trainers, Jilian Michaels, who had said she won’t cross the picket line, and Bob Harper, were not scheduled to work, so they didn’t show up at The Biggest Loser Ranch where the reality series is filmed. Among those who did show up and crossed the picket line were executive producers J.D. Roth and Todd Nelson, founders/CEO’s of 3 Ball Prods. (see photo by Jim Stevenson below). Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, will hold a meeting tomorrow to sanction the IATSE-led strike by the crew of The Biggest Loser. A press event is scheduled for 11:15 AM. “The producers of this show want to make their own workers ‘the biggest losers’ and the labor movement in LA is not going to let that happen,” AFL-CIO’s Maria Elena Durazo said in a statement.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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“if you don’t put down those signs I’ll shoot my partner! Just kidding, can’t you see I’m smiling? Now step back, I don’t want to scratch the paint on my Range Rover.”
Huelga!
vanessa makes $1000 a day and is complaining about her wage? how many people in america will feel sorry for her? ask her what the union wage is! its less then half. have fun making up the difference
Wrong on the amount. And what should someone work for when the bosses make millions…come out and cross the picket line and you can have the job. Until they fire you because you can’t do it!
This strike has nothing to do with wages. The crew is merely asking for health and pension benefits, which they’ve been working without for 11 seasons.
Maybe you people should just be happy to have a job in this trying economy. If your not happy with the working conditions quit and go someplace else…. what’s that, nobody else will pay you what you’re making now… then quit your crying and get back to work!
Maybe we should all just do as we are told, be happy with what we have and all be good soldiers…I’m not sure where the “American Dream” of you can be anything fits in there…but….
I’m pulling for IATSE and LOVE that Jillian has promised to not be a scab. Good for you all trying to make this country better! That’s not whinning, that’s action. The “every man for himself” mentality has gotten us into the economic whole we’re in. TV workers telling a story about people trying to get healthy should have healthcare and a voice on the job.
What they don’t say is that the workers showed up last week to work as usual but the union had declared a strike that most of them had no knowledge of. In order to go to work they would have had to cross a picket line. It was very intimidating and no one felt comfortable doing it. 90% of the crew did not chose to strike – they were basically forced into it. Stop slamming them.
Actually the crew voted unanimously to strike.
Unions are ruining this country.
A few things that nobody has explained, especially those on the “then find another job” side, is:
-Why shouldnt workers be paid for overtime?
-Why should the companies tax burden be shifted to the workers in the form of illegal 1099 payments?
-Why cant the crew eat after 6 hours of work?
-Why cant the crew get a reasonable turnaround, so they can go back and sleep and shower?
Simply regurgitating the republican talking points about the evils of unions doesnt apply here. We arent competing against a japanese car company here folks. There isnt the same show being produced in a third world country where wages and living conditions are humanely criminal to compete against the exact same show in the US. This isnt the UAW. Simply saying “Union” doesnt mean all unions are the same. Treating the issue and unions the same shows a lack of depth and understanding about the issues.
The crew gets paid for overtime
meal penalty is paid after 6 hours
There is no tax burden shift
The turnaround rule is also followed.
Not sure where you are getting your info but please report the facts. These people were and have never been mistreated.
Your facts are just not true. They are being paid 1099′s with no over time and less than adequate turn around.
Why do you think the producers think it will be more expensive to be union? Because they will actually have to pay for those things. The hourly wage wont go up if they go union.
Hourly wage actually goes down if they are union. People are so uninformed. They should ask the union what that facts are BEFORE they go on strike.
HI- So we both agree that the hourly wage doesnt go up if they are union. Then why are the producers unwilling to sign?
**Because they will have to pay their TAXES and OVERTIME. Its very simple.
No, those are true. If you want pension and health benefits, then keep on those points, but don’t make up more grievances than actually exist. If you really believe that, then you either don’t work on the show or you are delusional. The list “Hi” presented is correct.
It is better to stick to the point in the first place. This is about health coverage and pension.
d-pony, you are an ignoramus. Those companies run their payroll through a payroll company like Entertainment Partners and pay full fringes on every employee. The only people getting 1099s are people who have kit rentals such as makeup kits or computers or other gear that they bring with them to set as an excuse to make more money than just their day rate. The producers are already paying taxes and overtime on these employees. The additional cost to them for a union crew will be pension and health payments on top of payroll taxes which according to the ’09-’10 EP paymaster run 17-19%. Also they’ll pay more in meal penalties since union meal penalties compound incrementally whereas non-union meal penalties in California are equivalent to one hour’s pay regardless of length and number of meal penalties in one work day. If you want to write about what filters or formats they use to shoot the show, we’re all ears. But with regards to how companies like these handle their payroll, best if you leave that to the experienced professionals who actually know what they’re talking about.
I cannot believe all the BS… IA get your facts straight. OT (time and a half) is paid after the 8th hour, and then paid double time after the 12 hour. The rates are flat rates, based on industry standard, and the OT is calculated in the rate, however I’m sure that if the producers disclosed everyone’s rates, you would all look really silly walking out there with your signs and complaining (Being that they are WAY above scale)
Additionally, most of the crew were working 8 to 10 hour days, meals in the morning, afternoon. Great craft service and turnaround never exceeded 12 hours. SHAME ON YOU IA FOR BEING GREEDY AND TWISTING THE TRUTH.
what makes you special DPONYOURSET????
Like many producers working for a larger company–I get paid on a 1099. Nothing illegal about it.
You aren’t so special to deserve your taxes paid. Get over yourself.
Here’s my real question–whether this attempt to unionize succeeds or fails, let’s say 3Ball and Reveille never shoot in California again to avoid the issues you have brought up, would it be worth it? Is it worth it to get that 5 percent extra but lose multi-millions in future work within the state? Serious question, DPonyourset.
Love seeing the producer show up in his Range Rover, with his PGA health coverage and pension plan securely in place.
I’m sure he has spent countless hours working and creating jobs for people who do not create jobs but simple live off the minds of others. I know those guys and they oversee a lot of shows. They have changed my life by putting me on countless shows. I have bought my first house and am raising my two kids because of the sweat equity of these two guys. I can’t believe no one can see that. All because of a couple of selfish co-workers i get to lose my job. REVOTE! I want back in.
I’m glad you love your producers for figuring out how to make a reality show… where they take fat people and put them on a diet. Brilliant, but they did it all for you to get your 1st house, they are so thoughtful… of course if you get hurt or decided to have a baby or ever want to quit working, well that they don’t really care about, so no health or pension benefits, you know there is a limit to thier generosity. Maybe if they can think of another brilliant show, like Biggest Chemotherapy.
Have you seen the cars that the crew drives? I’m guessing they make a lot more that the average American worker. Since when is 6 figures not enough?
Seriously people! If you don’t like the pay, benefit situation, etc.. go work somewhere else and quit your crying! You get paid more than most people!
You should see what the editors, camera operators, story producers and post supervisors drive. What’s your point?
If you want to put some pressure on Biggest Loser and NBC, hit them in the pocket book. The show is always selling products as part of the story. No Subway mini commercials in the middle of the show, no extra money in the pocket. Or what about no NFL stars and logos at the next challenge. Contact these companies and marketing directors and tell them that you won’t be buying their product as long as they continue to work with Biggest Loser. It doesn’t take a thousand emails or phone calls to make them pay attention. Only a few. IATSE members and AFL-CIO members – work the keyboard AND the picket line. It’s 2010 not 1910. Tell the companies that you’re not buying what they’re selling until they release a statement in support of the Biggest Loser crew. And ask them to promise NOT send any company reps to the Ranch to cross picket lines.
The Internet is an amazing thing.
Caitlin O’Malley?
Media Manager?Subway Franchisee Advertising Fund Trust?
C.Omalley@sfaft.org
Ruth Woyciesjes
Field Creative Manager Subway Franchise Advertising Fund Trust (Broadcast Media Industry)
R.Woyciesjes@sfaft.org
Kristen Goldberg
General Mills (Fiber One / MultiGrain Cheerios)
Kristen.goldberg@genmills.com
Laura Traut
Director, Feeding America
ltraut@feedingamerica.org
Andy Pharoah
Wrigley’s (Extra Gum)
andy.pharoah@wrigley.com
Jennifer Jackson
Wrigley’s (Extra Gum)
jennifer.jacksonluth@wrigley.com
Anne-Cecilie Engell Speyer
Marketing Director, Iconix Brand Group (Danskin)
aspeyer@iconixbrand.com
Heather Spears
Public Relations Manager
heathers@asicsamerica.com
Leslie Hammond
Director of Media Serivces (NFL)
hammondl@nfl.com
Clare Graff
Manager of Publicity?(NFL)
clare.graff@nfl.net
SC Johnson (Ziploc),
Jennie-O Foods (Jennie-O Turkey) – (320) 235-2622
Larabar – (720) 945.1155
Brita – 1-800-24-BRITA
The worst crime against working people is a company which fails to operate at a profit…
The trade union movement represents the organized economic power of the workers… It is in reality the most potent and the most direct social insurance the workers can establish.
You are correct, it’s 2010 and not 1910. Unions are outdated and irrelevant now. Can I get a union electrician over here to plug in the coffee pot?
I am going to make a point of purchasing products from the companies referenced in your post…even if I don’t need their products. Unions have outlived their usefulness.
You want us to boycott Feeding America? A charity that feeds starving families across the country? Is there no limit to what you will do to grab your golden prize?
Thank you, Samuel Gompers 2.0!
They really should picket the IA.
Since this is ostensibly about crew members not achieving enough working days to qualify for IA’s health insurance, why not have IA change its byzantine rule system to accommodate today’s production realities? The players who can afford the onerous union rules are becoming less numerous, not more, so instead of creating this artificial limit to health insurance, instead the IA should allow members to buy into the system to make up for working days they didn’t achieve. It’s been stated over and over that “The BIggest Loser” pays more than typical so why not allow IA members to use that overage to buy into the health care system?
It certainly makes more sense to allow workers to have an alternative rather than simply saying you missed 3 days, therefore no health insurance for you.
Of course, that would be if IA actually cared about its members rather than just accumulating more power. It’s pretty clear they don’t really care about their drones. But no one will ever thinks to question the crapulence that is the IA.
That would be too logical. If the union truly cared about it’s members, it would have done this already. I’m sure it’s not an issue for the fat cat union executives.
I still can’t figure out why this show is even filming in Los Angles? I mean it’s just a reality show about fat people. Going through all of this film it in Mexico on some ranch and be done with it. Look at the buildings in the King Gillette Ranch It’s Spanish! I don’t see why everything has to be filmed in Southern California.
I hear Arizona, New Mexico, the Carolina’s and a slew of other states have some pretty sweet incentives.
The reason they shoot in LA is because that’s where the EXECUTIVES FAMILIES ARE!!! They want to come home at a reasonable hour and be able to take their kids to their local doctors that are in their health plan!!! The 2-faced hypocritical nature of this is so obvious, ignorant, riddled with greed and saturated in America’s NOW happening downfall!!! We suck!-(
No worries, we now have the wonderful “Affordable Healthcare Act”. Health insurance for everyone!
It’s much cheaper for the prods to get employees to work overtime than to hire another employee. and it is illegal. the prods need babysitters; state and federal labor representatives on set at all times to protect workers from intentional criminal acts of endangerment.
Ah yes, we’re back to the old “endangerment” argument. That’s tactic number 23 on the union list, right?
Dear striking employees,
You are FREE to NOT work for this company and go find a better job elsware… If you can
Isn’t this country great!
You go have another glass of wine, honeybun.
We live in a free and democratic country. It is perfectly within the production company’s rights to shoot a show non-union if they wish to.
This harassment is not fair and it is not right. Take this aggressively caustic, one-sided harassment scenario and place it in any other genre, and all of you would be up in arms. For instance, how about The Little Rock Nine? Don’t know what that is? Look it up. Uh huh.
If you, a union member, don’t want to work non-union. Then don’t. But let those who do… do!
(and by the way, the PGA does not offer health benefits to ALL of its members. And, furthermore, their plan is crappy. So don’t make up stupid analogies without some level of knowledge to back it up.)
There’s a huge distinction to make between workers repping government workers, and those in the private sector. Public Unions, with their absurdly generous pensions, are basically bankrupting uber-liberal governments who always paid them off in return for voting loyalty.
In the private sector, it’s a whole different ballgame. Especially when it comes to big media. BM’s profits have risen astronomically, no small part to a pliant federal government, who’ve let lobbyists rewrite every law dealing with consolidation, FIN-SYN, etc. In this case, unions are instrumental in providing health-care (keeping the matter in the private sector), and basic minimum working conditions.
To those people who say that unions are the “death of the country”– or whatever — surely you’ve noticed that the once vibrant middle class in america evaporated, no replaced with rich and poor. If we are ever to “re-grow” our middle class, doesn’t it make sense to protect their interests, rather than allowing the rich to take advantage of them?
By all means because hey, don’t factory workers deserve to paid $45/hr to pull a lever on an assembly line as opposed to the $12/hr the job is truly worth?
What factory jobs pay $12 anymore?
In this economy, NOBODY walks off a job unless they absolutely have to. It takes a lot of guts and soul searching to do this — the know damn well they might not get their jobs back. You’d only walk off if you feel you’re being severely mistreated.
The posters who view these crewmembers as “crybabies” are completely out of touch.
I’m pretty sure the “crybabies” are the IATSE members. None of my story producer or post-production friends have complained. I think their liberal attitudes are being exploited by the IATSE members against their better judgment.
These guys are working on the dream job as far as reality shows is concerned. They are treated better by these producers than any other show out there! Why don’t they check what other workers doing the same thing are getting? Same old story, the producers go the extra mile to make things better and next thing is “give us more”
give the unions their final days. you guys would’ve probably given the dinosaurs grief at the end! geesh.
a quote i read on the internet…so true it was by ryan dixon I believe …
“Since when are private businesses forced to hire people they don’t want to? What if people stood outside your house with huge sign saying, “Shame On” you for not buy our product or using our services? Especially if their product or service costs more and would be poor in quality.
The SEIU and other unions across California run a campaign called “Shame On” ‘Insert Business Name Here’. They stand outside businesses trying to make them look bad for not using union workers. This kind of tactic cannot go on any longer! PRIVATE business should be able to choose who they hire and not be forced to do anything that could possibly damage their business. It is time for people to start fighting against these tactics and exposing these people for what they really are.”
Since when did this blog get taken over by anti-union teabaggers? Remember the WGA strike with a bunch of millionaires screaming “WHY WE FIGHT!” like Rosie the Riveter and shutting the industry down?
How quickly everyone forgets how when the WGA took 6 months to make a shitty deal all the unions stood by in solidarity even though they had considerable contempt for the WGA and it’s grandstanding.
This blog was the HUB of information and support of unions when the writers went on strike for more back end money, but when the laborers go on strike suddenly everyone hates unions?
This is disgusting.
Dear Why –
Totally with you on wondering how Sarah Palin’s minions found this website, but just to correct something you said about the WGA strike:
Some unions were supportive of the WGA (SAG, SEIU, Teamsters) and some weren’t. (By the way, “supportive” means lip service; everyone crossed the picket lines except for two awesome Teamsters and maybe a couple of other exceptions.) IATSE was by far the _least_ supportive union. Then-president Tommy Short told IA members they had to cross the picket lines or else.
HOWEVER, despite IA leadership’s execrable behavior during the WGA strike, I and every WGA member I’ve talked to strongly supports the IA effort to unionize “Biggest Loser.” Those workers deserve a pension. They deserve health care. They deserve to be treated like every other professional in Hollywood. And shame on the sour, bitter, jealous little people who would stand in their way. Including people in this comment section.
Ashley Gable
Wrong. Unions are needed because people will always take advantage of other people when given the opportunity. Always.
not all unions function well or fairly, and in those cases we should change the leadership our look at ways to improve how unions deal with management NOT get rid of the union.
So unions don’t take advantage of their members? oh i think they do. Using them as pawns to gain more cash flow. Hmmmm sounds like a business that operates the way it wants to. Union members should strike the union. I wonder if the union reps who recommended the strike are not taking pay during this trying time. I will bet they are not.
The big problem is the networks, not as much the production companies. The networks seem to be stepping away from the burden of guilt here. It’s NBC who needs to make up the difference with the unions. Not the production companies. The Networks make the biggest profit from increased ad sales and profits. The profits are much higher for reality shows, then scripted shows. NBC needs to be the bigger “guy” and make up the difference. NBC seems to be sitting on their high horse watching from above. The money is very nominal to them compared to the millions of dollars in profits. JD and Todd of 3ball are good guys. They deserve to make a profit, too. Their profit is nothing compared to the network. Let’s all band together and get NBC to pay the union!
GE, VIACOM, MURDOCH and DISNEY… it’s the giant corporate greed-hounds that should mandate all productions that AIR on ANY of their channels abide by union rules. Above the line AND below the line! The entire Hollywood labor force should shut this damn city down and wake up the world! Our ‘entertainment’ export is a large enough megaphone to get people to hear us! The ‘smack-a-mole’ approach is a loser… the unions are too understaffed to keep hunting down the JD Roths of the world. This is just more of the same… the rich get richer and the poor get prison. Or in this case… kicked out of the houses they can’t afford the mortgage on. It’s all tied together people… Greed has got our souls;(
You go, Norma Ray!
keying cars and slashing tires is not cool. grow up! since when is any kind of violence an acceptable form of negotiating???
most of the “jerks” on the picket line don’t even work on the show. the actual crew members are being respectful for the most part.
Dear “wtf”,
There has been NO “keying cars” or “slashing tires”.
You’re not only a liar, but also an uninformed idiot.
it just so happens i saw it for myself, dumbass. you really shouldn’t comment on issues you have no clue about.
PS JD and Todd and the rest of the production companies can’t bad mouth the networks because they need to make money from them to help pay their crews. They cannot say what needs to be said, NBC needs to step up and create a clause that gives anyone who works on their network benefits. PLEASE pass this along. PEOPLE are being too scrappy, focus on the big picture, please!
PASS IT ALONG. NBC NEEDS TO PAY UNION. They will say it’s up to the production companies, but it isn’t.
also call:
Reveille Productions (818) 733-1218
25/7 Productions (818) 432-2800
3 Ball Productions (424) 236-7500
tell them you will not watch The Biggest Loser
until they sign a union contract
I find it hard to believe that any of this is going on! If you are employed by someone, you work by their rules. If you don’t like their rules, you work for someone else or start your own company, if you want to take the risk! The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Unions do nothing except turn hard working people into lazy people. You know the old adage, be careful what you wish for because it may actually come true. If the employees actually win and get the union jobs they want, they will probably find that they will be making much less than they were before they went union. Wait till they see all of the union dues etc… that they will be paying that they didn’t have to pay for before! Oh, but all will be good because they have health care right?
Can someone explain to me how producing a reality show is risky???
I worked for a good number of Ep’s and most of them just lucked into being in a position where someone would listen to their idea. All it takes is a show treatment/diary of 10 pages, and maybe you can shoot something for a couple grand. It really takes no risk.
And many of the EP’s i know who are running shows only make around 200k -300k. If these EP’s are bringing down 12 mil a year for running some fatties on a treadmill, they are overpaid. Let’s be honest here.
People are acting like these guys risked their families lives to cure cancer….
i have been in a union for 17 years and i have appreciated the union for every minute of it
the dues, etc, are nothing compared to the benefits
and yes, the healthcare is fantastic
you have no idea what you are talking about
I make 1000/day? Really? That’s news to me – thanks for the fat raise though.
My personal experience with these guys and they are anything but fair. 16 hr. days without breaks. They will use you and discard you and only care about themselves.
Somtimes, especially in a exploitive workplace, you need a Union for protection against exploitive employers.
Most of these guys aren’t asking for raises FYI, and the notion that they are ALL making SO MUCH over scale is just plain false. They’re just asking that when they do work 70 hour weeks (or more) for the show that those hours can count towards their benefits. Most of them leave the show for a week here or a few days there (if they can find the work) to go work a union show in order to keep their benefits. Hey! Wouldn’t it be just if they could work on the show they’ve devoted years to and make their benefits at the same time? I’m a producer, I don’t have union representation and I pay through the nose to be myself and my daughter insured. It would be nice if all the long hours I put in allowed me to get health benefits. If we all banded together then maybe we could ALL have health benefits. I don’t think it’s too much to ask. Other shows have gone union – this show is a cash cow – give a little back to those who helped make it such a success. It’s the right thing to do.
What other reality shows have gone all union?
Will have to be on the lookout for those two…