Targeting Non-Union Facilities

by Eric Chaudron
Guild Field Representative

As the new organizer at the Editors Guild I feel like I have the best job anyone could ask for. My job is one part strategist, one part lawyer, one part activist, and two parts hell-raiser. I get to offer people the chance to become part of the best labor craftsperson's organization in the country. I have the opportunity to work with good employers to get their employees a fair shake in the bargaining process,and I get to go after non-union companies and convince them that being organized under the Editors' Guild contract is a smart move and to their benefit.

We have made a commitment to organizing the unorganized segment of our industry. This is a daunting task and it will take time, but it is a job we must do
now to maintain our strong position in the industry. Successful organizing campaigns will maintain industry standards and help create more union jobs for our members.

We are gearing up for the new year with the idea of focusing on non-union post-production facilities in town. We have some potential targets but we need the help of the membership to tell us where there may be leads for organizing. Our focus will be on facilities with at least 8-10 bargaining unit employees. We need you to keep a look out for friends or acquaintances who work at these facilities, who express a desire to be in the Guild, or who feel they are not being treated fairly by their employer.

Once we get the leads, we can evaluate the situation to determine if the facility should be organized. We do, however, need the initial leads. I am always interested in discovering potential new targets and I will follow up on any leads you send me.

Please feel free to call me at the Guild at (213) 876-4770 or send me your comments via e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you.