We're Getting Bigger
And Stronger

On January 1st 1998 approximately one thousand members of local 695 will be transferred to our local. "We'll carry a lot more weight in the post production process," explained President Donn Cambern at the special general meeting on November 13th. The IATSE decided on the transfer in order to consolidate post production representation in line with the changes technology has brought to the work. About 200 cinetechnicians will move

Executive Director Ron Kutak addresses the special meeting.

from local 695 to local 683, the lab workers. Local 695 will continue to represent production sound people.

"Producers take numbers seriously,"said Executive Director Ron Kutak at the special meeting. "It's important to build the union. We'll have a lot more clout." Ron explained that the incoming group will include re-recording mixers, TV engineers, recording machine and dubbing machine operators, sound service people and studio projectionists. There is work to be done integrating the new members into our structure and, eventually, putting all the contracts together, he said. There are 30-something people on our current board of directors so we may have a large board for a while until the seats can be re-apportioned.

Important questions were asked and answered at the meeting so it was unfortunate that there wasn't a bigger crowd. There was a wonderful spread of food before the meeting to enable people to come straight from work.

"Will there be a crossover of people working in sound coming into editing?" someone asked, and someone else expressed a fear of the incoming members taking work from established Editors Guild members. Ron pointed out that the 695 people already have jobs and anyone can do any job right now if you pay the dues and are on the roster for the classification.

"We have to make sure all members have equal rights," said Ron, "We want to keep an economic floor and protect members while not limiting them."

"Is there a downside to all this?" asked a member. "What we and the producers make of it is what matters," Ron replied. For a union to have power, he went on, "What matters are numbers, having classifications producers can't easily replace, an involved membership and effective representation. We're only as good as our membership. When the day comes when we're in a serious struggle the membership needs to speak with one voice and be heard all over town. Self-empowerment is the most important thing."

President Donn Cambern wrapped up the meeting at 9 pm and reminded everyone that our board meetings are open and every member is welcome to attend.