[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: HP & DH Movie

[OctobersChild48 at aol.com]

Carol:

I'm  not saying that the writers shouldn't get their due, only that
they are  keeping others from working--actors, directors, film crews.
Even the  caterers and hairstylists suffered as a result of the
writers' strike  causing the Golden Globes to be a nonevent. And the
writers themselves  can't even write. They're being controlled by the
union. How fair is  that?
 
Sandy:
 
You have it all wrong. The union does not control it's  members, it is the 
other way around. The union makes it's recommendations but it  is entirely up to 
the membership how they choose to act upon them. It is done in  a very 
Democratic fashion; by vote, and the majority vote rules and wins. And  any member 
of the union can choose to cross the picket line and continue to  work. It is 
usually not in their best interest to do so, but they  can.
 
As far as workers in other fields who are being affected  by the strike but 
are not part of it - they have options that the striking  workers don't. They 
can apply for unemployment and receive it, the striking  worker can't. The 
non-striking worker is eligible for whatever social benefits  that are available, 
such as food stamps and medical, the striking worker isn't.  No, it is not on 
par with their usual standard of living, but it is a hell of a  lot better 
than strike pay.
 
I would also like to point out that a strike catches  nobody by surprise. 
Even if the contract expires today and the strike occurs  tomorrow everyone has 
known for months that it is pending, including non-union  workers. You always 
have time to prepare for it, as best you can. The only real  uncertainty is how 
long it will last.
 
Strikes are most certainly unfortunate and unpleasant  for anyone and 
everyone involved, but in my opinion they would not be necessary  if the powers that 
be were only willing to share the wealth.
 
Sandy, a union worker who has gone through two strike  threats in just a 
little over three years.

 



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