Striking Editors, ‘Swamp People’ Producers Settle Dispute

COMMENTS (15)

• Before anyone complains about these “whiney” editors just trying to add icing to their cake, you should be aware that the reason this negotiation went on so long was that they refused to have the contract NOT include the production personell as well. Camera, sound, et al, owe a a vote of thanks to these brave editors. Oh, they also held out until the assistants got minimum scale wages. Until this they were getting 1/2 to 1/3 the minimum. Editors were getting the usual above scale and did not ask for anything higher than what they were already getting. Hmmm. So selfish, weren’t they?

  Comment by The 99% — Friday February 22, 2013 @ 9:21pm PST  Reply to this post

  • One Mitzvah deserves another. The editors were menschen, OK?
    Now, what’s for lunch?

    Comment by mba — Saturday February 23, 2013 @ 1:04pm PST  Reply to this post

  • Wow. That only took four days. Editors gots juice!

    Comment by Terry MacGinnis — Saturday February 23, 2013 @ 9:59pm PST  Reply to this post

• Wow. What a shame. If the editors wanted to work a union job, why did they go with a non-union firm?

  And if the union editors are so great, why do they have to strike to be able to get work? Thug mentality. Silly thing is that Swamp People was posting at the Hollywood Production Center, which houses numerous production entities. Yet the strikers weren’t allowed on the property – so ALL the entities suffered while the pickets were set up at the two main entrances. You had to read the small “Swamp People” type on their signs to realize what they were trying to do. I know – I had to cross them every day to get to work there.

  Comment by Mark Anahp — Friday February 22, 2013 @ 9:38pm PST  Reply to this post

• How about increasing the budgets so we can shoot a series properly and not have to beg friends to work at a reduced rate for a better credit or cut corners in order to deliver –
  perhaps we should have business affairs come out and shoot for one week and see what they bring home for the amount of money they want to give you

  Comment by Anonymous — Friday February 22, 2013 @ 9:49pm PST  Reply to this post

• I love how the propaganda circulates through our industry by people who have no idea what the issues were or what anyone’s real motivation was. Were you actually involved in the conversations between the union and the production company, Mr./Mrs. The 99%?? Clearly not, because your facts are wrong. Yet you write them as if you know something. Obviously you have an agenda and fair enough. But I hope readers don’t give any of these people who comment on this situation any credibility. Anyone who actually has inside information on this situation is not commenting online about it. These posts are people supporting their opinions and agendas with hearsay and speculation. Imagine that in our business! Sheesh.

  Comment by Anonymous — Saturday February 23, 2013 @ 10:10am PST  Reply to this post

  • The characterization of the deal by the commenter “The 99%” is 100% accurate. Including Production crew and getting fair wages for Assistant Editors were in fact part of the deal and were major sticking points. There would have been a deal much quicker if those aspects of the deal were not included. Kind of illogical for “Anonymous” to say that NO ONE posting comments knows what’s in the deal but that he/she knows FOR SURE that what “The 99%” posted is inaccurate. I don’t expect to convince any of the trolls and haters that I’m right but in time the details will come out and the truth will speak for itself.

    The main benefit that editors will get from the deal is healthcare and getting paid overtime for the hours that they work. Assistant editors will get a nice bump in pay because they were being taken advantage of the most. And production crew will get a contract without having to go on strike (a reversal of the usual model). People can rant and rave and lie all they want but they can’t stop the trend: Reality is going Union. Everyone has a right to organize and negotiate for better wages and working conditions. I just hope that things move swiftly and that more groups find ways to work together to speak with one voice to demand a fair share of the profits they helped generate.

    Comment by PostItNotes — Saturday February 23, 2013 @ 11:43am PST  Reply to this post

• Union Yes.

  Comment by JustMe — Saturday February 23, 2013 @ 10:37am PST  Reply to this post

• MOST DUMB COMMENT: ” If the editors wanted to work a union job, why did they go with a non-union firm?”

  Union Firms are created by organizing you idiot. No production voluntarily goes union without pressure and perhaps a strike to flip it. This takes Editors walking off the job and picketing and annoying you each day as you must cross the picket to get to work at HPC. Bravo Editors well done! What show will flop next?

  Comment by Reality — Sunday February 24, 2013 @ 1:25am PST  Reply to this post

• Shhh… no one tell the WGA that Reality shows are being unionized. (They’re sleeping…)

  Comment by FutureMan — Sunday February 24, 2013 @ 10:42am PST  Reply to this post

• Nice grab. They waited until the season 4 ratings came out and bullied out a deal.

  Comment by anonymous — Monday February 25, 2013 @ 6:27am PST  Reply to this post

• Prediction: Season 4 tanks (already trending that direction) and due to prohibitively high union costs in both the field and post, History cancels the show. Nice job guys!

  Comment by Amused — Monday February 25, 2013 @ 11:45am PST  Reply to this post

• To the editors:

  Good luck finding another job in reality, you’d better hope Swamp People gets picked up for life!!

  Sincerely ,

  Your past and employers

  Comment by bad move — Friday March 15, 2013 @ 1:50pm PDT  Reply to this post

  • Haha Face It. Editors are in high demand, we will continue to work and continue to flip our shows union. Retaliating against unionizing efforts is against the law.

    Comment by Great Move — Saturday March 16, 2013 @ 1:54pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Any body who loves this show. Jeovah God will take care all the people who abuse & kill his Anumals even Gators as well. This meens you Swamps who do the wicket things.

  Comment by M — Thursday May 9, 2013 @ 7:01pm PDT  Reply to this post