1.) CONTRACTS I was a blue collar worker for 25+ years before returning to college. I've been on negotiating committees and I know from first hand experience how important the rights delineated by a union contract are. Workers covered by them come under contract law, a well developed field since it is important to corporations. Without such, a worker has no right to a job whatsoever--bosses can fire you any time they want. Furthermore, non-union workers come under a provision inherited from English Common Law: it's called "a Master-Servant relationship." How the owing class still thinks.
2.) GOOD WAGES My dad was a time keeper/accountant at Boeings (Seattle.) On an average union salary in the '50s-'60s, he could support a family and we lived in a nice neighborhood with great schools. The schools and infrastructure were good because good wages made for a sound tax base. Not having to have two jobs and commute long distances, people had time for civic participation.
3.) SOLIDARITY My mom's father was a logger; a working person who read constantly and could see how the system was distorted. Therefore he was a Wobbly. (For readers who don't know labor history, look up I.W.W. Also Eugene Debs. Germane to this post, look up the huge 1946 Hollywood strike. My political mentor was a participant.)
The slogan of the Wobblies was: AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL.
My father was a film editor in the 1930s and fought for unionization of his group. His friends doing editorial work at Disney were left out until there was a separate fight. I grew up in the business (I had no interest in being a part of it) but I was always aware that people who wrote, filmed, and edited were well paid...health care, retirement, and good salaries. I am appalled at the extreme money paid today by "the stars" for homes that nobody needs ($200,000 million last week was the record). I grew up in a neighborhood with dozens of "stars" who lived in homes much like the one's my family and neighbors enjoyed, but never overdone. Maybe a pool (not everyone had to have one in mid-century) but otherwise homes fit in to the existing neighborhood and weren't necessarily built on the highest "hill" available. Everything here in LA is out of control thanks to the people who have more money than they need. I used to talk to couple of actors who walked our street daily. Who knew?
I read the Union requested the CEO-to-avg-union-payscale to be reduced to a 20:1 Ratio. This meeting lasted all of 8 minutes. I think it's time the Big Stars show solidarity and join in the Line. Anyhoo... Keep up the outstanding work Jimbo!
WHY?
1.) CONTRACTS I was a blue collar worker for 25+ years before returning to college. I've been on negotiating committees and I know from first hand experience how important the rights delineated by a union contract are. Workers covered by them come under contract law, a well developed field since it is important to corporations. Without such, a worker has no right to a job whatsoever--bosses can fire you any time they want. Furthermore, non-union workers come under a provision inherited from English Common Law: it's called "a Master-Servant relationship." How the owing class still thinks.
2.) GOOD WAGES My dad was a time keeper/accountant at Boeings (Seattle.) On an average union salary in the '50s-'60s, he could support a family and we lived in a nice neighborhood with great schools. The schools and infrastructure were good because good wages made for a sound tax base. Not having to have two jobs and commute long distances, people had time for civic participation.
3.) SOLIDARITY My mom's father was a logger; a working person who read constantly and could see how the system was distorted. Therefore he was a Wobbly. (For readers who don't know labor history, look up I.W.W. Also Eugene Debs. Germane to this post, look up the huge 1946 Hollywood strike. My political mentor was a participant.)
The slogan of the Wobblies was: AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL.
My father was a film editor in the 1930s and fought for unionization of his group. His friends doing editorial work at Disney were left out until there was a separate fight. I grew up in the business (I had no interest in being a part of it) but I was always aware that people who wrote, filmed, and edited were well paid...health care, retirement, and good salaries. I am appalled at the extreme money paid today by "the stars" for homes that nobody needs ($200,000 million last week was the record). I grew up in a neighborhood with dozens of "stars" who lived in homes much like the one's my family and neighbors enjoyed, but never overdone. Maybe a pool (not everyone had to have one in mid-century) but otherwise homes fit in to the existing neighborhood and weren't necessarily built on the highest "hill" available. Everything here in LA is out of control thanks to the people who have more money than they need. I used to talk to couple of actors who walked our street daily. Who knew?
Great article folks!!! the only one better was[is] your comments on Clarence ThomASS
Whoops. It was only 200 million...sorry...I'M 87...a long-hauler. I'm lucky I can get anything right!
I read the Union requested the CEO-to-avg-union-payscale to be reduced to a 20:1 Ratio. This meeting lasted all of 8 minutes. I think it's time the Big Stars show solidarity and join in the Line. Anyhoo... Keep up the outstanding work Jimbo!