Collective Agreements

On 8/07/2009, at 12:27 PM:

Hey Tony,

Another crew here in NZ has been left without pay by the producer Popo Lilo while shooting The Pe’a. Some of Mr. Lilo’s friends have been paid, I understand, but a fair number of the crew have not been. IF there had been in place a proper collective agreement - that protected both sides - guarantees would be in place to prevent this from happening!

The actions of the grips on Avatar outlined in (June’s) “el presidente” seem to show the true courage and care that crew members have for one another in New Zealand, mainly fostered by the system the producers have in place (that being one with no true collective agreement).

As AlBol says in the article, the action taken is a laughable one. The producers were not affected, only the remaining crew were.

The attitude of “To protect my ass, or in other words - to get work, I must do/say nothing” will continue until we get together, protected as one under a true collective agreement! I think this issue should be placed by the Guild in the front of every crew member’s mind now, and not left “to be sorted out over time.”

Regards,

Mike Macaulay