The poster is *The Animation Guild (TAG), Local 839 IATSE **Business Representative** Steve Hulett<http://www.blogger.com/profile/05537689111433326847>, *
Coming from where it does this is either "high praise" or completely damning. The IATSE union leadership is traditionally reluctant to strike and through much of the strike was a conduit for anti-WGA propaganda. The comment below can be considered one from a thoroughly craft union perspective, impressed and favorable at what the WGA achieved but not willing to go beyond the craft union perspective. From a purely trade union perspective I think that Hulett is correct. But I know that many in the WGA hoped to find a way beyond the merely traditional craft union cul de sac. So take Hulett's praise for what it is worth, which is a lot if you are "merely" a trade unionist looking for a local victory.
***
Mr. Verrone is like most other union officers in the United States today: He leads an organization that is badly overmatched against corporations that have the deepest of pockets and the basest of motives.
At every turn, in every circumstane, they quite simply want it all. And today in Hollywood, the only groups that keep them from devouring the entire enchilada happens to be labor unions, yet unions operate on a playing field that's about as level as the upper elevations of Everest, and almost as treacherous.
I'll be crystalline here. I don't agree with the WGA's grabs for other unions' and guilds' jurisdictions. I couldn't agree and remain an employee of the IATSE. But Patric Verrone played his hand -- given what it was -- about as well as it could be played.
* He orchestrated a job action when the companies didn't expect it.
* He held his unit together for thirteen weeks.
* He initiated events that provided the Directors Guild of America *maximum*leverage at the bargaining table ... and the directors' result contributed greatly to WGA's ultimate success (just as John Wells said).
To be sure, there was pain and collateral damage with this strike, but there could have been more. And the pattern of agreements that has now been stitched by the WGA and DGA will (probably, hopefully) preclude an actors' walkout in July, for by then other unions will have hammered out new contracts sat with the AMPTP based on the writers' and directors' precedents.
What some union and guild members don't understand is that the power entertainment unions enjoyed when movie studios teetered on bankruptcy in the early sixties was *far* greater than it is in 2008. A long strike then meant death for a Warner Bros. or Twentieth Century-Fox; today all it means is a mild head cold.
So. Is Patric Verrone a tool of the AMPTP? Only if you dwell in some alternate universe that is now sixty years behind us.
On Feb 15, 2008 9:27 AM, Greg Boozell <gboozell at juno.com> wrote:
> "HARLAN ELLISON - Wednesday, February 13 2008 22:49:43 *
> *
> YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO RE-POST THIS ANYWHERE:
>
> Creds: got here in 1962, written for just about everybody, won the
> Writers Guild Award four times for solo work, sat on the WGAw Board
> twice, worked on negotiating committees, and was out on the picket lines
> with my NICK COUNTER SLEEPS WITH THE FISHE$$$ sign. You may have heard
> my name. I am a Union guy, I am a Guild guy, I am loyal. I fuckin' LOVE
> the Guild.
>
> And I voted NO on accepting this deal.
>
> My reasons are good, and they are plentiful; Patric Verrone will be
> saddened by what I am about to say; long-time friends will shake their
> heads; but this I say without equivocation...
>
> THEY BEAT US LIKE A YELLOW DOG. IT IS A SHIT DEAL. We finally got a
> timorous generation that has never had to strike, to get their asses out
> there, and we had to put up with the usual cowardly spineless babbling
> horse's asses who kept mumbling "lessgo bac'ta work" over and over, as
> if it would make them one iota a better writer. But after months on the
> line, and them finally bouncing that pus-sucking dipthong Nick Counter,
> we rushed headlong into a shabby, scabrous, underfed shovelfulla shit
> clutched to the affections of toss-in-the-towel summer soldiers
> trembling before the Awe of the Alliance.
>
> My Guild did what it did in 1988. It trembled and sold us out. It gave
> away the EXACT co-terminus expiration date with SAG for some bullshit
> short-line substitute; it got us no more control of our words; it
> sneak-abandoned the animator and reality beanfield hands before anyone
> even forced it on them; it made nice so no one would think we were
> meanies; it let the Alliance play us like the village idiot. The WGAw
> folded like a Texaco Road Map from back in the day.
>
> And I am ashamed of this Guild, as I was when Shavelson was the prexy,
> and we wasted our efforts and lost out on technology that we had to
> strike for THIS time. 17 days of streaming tv!!!????? Geezus, you
> bleating wimps, why not just turn over your old granny for gang-rape?
>
> You deserve all the opprobrium you get. While this nutty festschrift of
> demented pleasure at being allowed to go back to work in the rice paddy
> is filling your cowardly hearts with joy and relief that the grips and
> the staff at the Ivy and street sweepers won't be saying nasty shit
> behind your back, remember this:
>
> You are their bitches. They outslugged you, outthought you,
> outmaneuvered you; and in the end you ripped off your pants, painted yer
> asses blue, and said yes sir, may I have another.
>
> Please excuse my temerity. I'm just a sad old man who has fallen among
> Quislings, Turncoats, Hacks and Cowards.
>
> I must go now to whoops. My gorge has become buoyant.
>
> Respectfully, Yr. Pal, Harlan Ellison"
>
>
> Greg
>
>
> ___________________________________
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>
-- Jerry Monaco's Philosophy, Politics, Culture Weblog is Shandean Postscripts to Politics, Philosophy, and Culture http://monacojerry.livejournal.com/
His fiction, poetry, weblog is Hopeful Monsters: Fiction, Poetry, Memories http://www.livejournal.com/users/jerrymonaco/
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