Overtime Pay Threatened

Overtime Pay Threatened

With a demonstration, a City Council resolution and press releases, the IATSE flexes its muscles.

by Cathy Repola,
Assistant Executive Director

SECTIONS:

Legislative Committee Established
A Huge Demonstration
LA City Council Support

Legislative Committee Established

The IATSE has, for the first time ever, established a Legislative Committee, spurred by recently introduced legislation at both the state and federal levels which will seriously affect the lives of our members. Steve Flint of Local 659 and I are the co-chairs of this new committee. Our attention has been focused recently on fighting to save daily overtime pay in California. It hasbeen a long and strenuous battle, and it is by no means over yet.

A bill which would have eliminated mandatory overtime pay after eight hours work in a day was passed by the State Assembly. It would have put us under Federal guidelines, which only call for overtime pay after 40 hours in a week. There was a lot of press coverage and, when the bill was defeated in the State Senate's Industrial Relations Committee on April 24th, there was great jubilation. However, Governor Wilson found a way to circumvent our State legislators and move forward on his quest to get rid of daily overtime pay.

The Industrial Welfare Commission establishes and oversees the wages and working conditions of the various industries of this state. The Commissioners are all appointed by Wilson. He has also left one of the two labor seats vacant for quite some time. The imbalance of schools of thought in the Commission is quite apparent once you sit through one of their open sessions. Governor Wilson issued an Executive Order asking them "in the absence of legislative action Š to commence rule-making to its 14 wage orders requiring daily overtime." Their first step was to hold a series of public hearings throughout the state. The IATSE Hollywood locals have been at the forefront of the ensuing fight, not only as leaders within the entertainment industry but state-wide as well.

A Huge Demonstration

One of these five hearings took place in San Diego and there was a huge demonstration outside. Once inside the auditorium, you couldn't help but notice that all but a handful of people were wearing buttons reading "Save the 8 hour day." Many IA Representatives attended, as well as a busload of IA members, many of whom addressed the Commission, asking them not to take away daily overtime. It could not have been a better demonstration of our opposition to Governor Wilson's mandated proposal. The IWC got our message loud and clear.

L.A. City Council Support

A week after the San Diego hearing, there was another one in Merced. It was too far for us to bus people and it was a big disappointment for many of us still riding on the success of San Diego. There were only a few people there in opposition and many employer representatives were present who advocated the elimination of overtime pay. Many things happened at this hearing which made it apparent that the IWC was probably going to move forward on this issue. One example: prior to this hearing, Barbara Jerome of Local 706 contacted Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon and convinced him to present a resolution to the City Council opposing the elimination of daily overtime pay. The resolution was adopted and a copy of the resolution was presented to the IATSE at the City Council meeting on April 26th. Barbara was given a copy to take to Merced to read into the public record. However, the chairperson of the Commission asked her not to take the time to read it all, saying "The 'whereas's can go on forever." Yet employer representatives were allowed a half hour or more to present their cases.

Shortly afterwards, we were informed the Commission would be making a decision on May 17th. We had to do more and we did.

We embarked upon a public awareness campaign, contacting radio, television and newspapers throughout the Los Angeles area and issuing a press release. We urged the public to write letters to the Commission.

On May 17th at the public meeting in Oakland, the Industrial Welfare Commission [awaits further news]

This whole issue is indicative of the prevailing political agenda of our current lawmakers at both state and federal levels. On April 16th I was present, with other IA representatives, when Robert Reich, U.S. Secretary of Labor, addressed a big crowd of labor leaders in Los Angeles. He talked about the "major attack" on unions going on in Congress right now. He also predicted that if Republicans take over the White House and "If we don't regain Congress" he believes "we will see 60 years of labor victories jeopardized."

It is crucial that we all participate in the political process and educate ourselves about what the people we vote for really represent.

Reprinted from
The Motion Picture Editors Guild Newsletter
Vol. 17, No. 3 - May/June 1996

Guild Home | Newsletter Home | Top of Page

Copyright © 1996, All Rights Reserved by The Motion Picture Editors Guild, IATSE Local 776


	Overtime Pay Threatened With a demonstration, a City Council resolution and press releases, the IATSE flexes its muscles. by Cathy Repola, Assistant Executive Director
	*SECTIONS:* Legislative Committee Established A Huge Demonstration LA City Council Support
	Legislative Committee Established	The IATSE has, for the first time ever, established a Legislative Committee, spurred by recently introduced legislation at both the state and federal levels which will seriously affect the lives of our members. Steve Flint of Local 659 and I are the co-chairs of this new committee. Our attention has been focused recently on fighting to save daily overtime pay in California. It hasbeen a long and strenuous battle, and it is by no means over yet. A bill which would have eliminated mandatory overtime pay after eight hours work in a day was passed by the State Assembly. It would have put us under Federal guidelines, which only call for overtime pay after 40 hours in a week. There was a lot of press coverage and, when the bill was defeated in the State Senate's Industrial Relations Committee on April 24th, there was great jubilation. However, Governor Wilson found a way to circumvent our State legislators and move forward on his quest to get rid of daily overtime pay. The Industrial Welfare Commission establishes and oversees the wages and working conditions of the various industries of this state. The Commissioners are all appointed by Wilson. He has also left one of the two labor seats vacant for quite some time. The imbalance of schools of thought in the Commission is quite apparent once you sit through one of their open sessions. Governor Wilson issued an Executive Order asking them "in the absence of legislative action Š to commence rule-making to its 14 wage orders requiring daily overtime." Their first step was to hold a series of public hearings throughout the state. The IATSE Hollywood locals have been at the forefront of the ensuing fight, not only as leaders within the entertainment industry but state-wide as well.
	A Huge Demonstration	One of these five hearings took place in San Diego and there was a huge demonstration outside. Once inside the auditorium, you couldn't help but notice that all but a handful of people were wearing buttons reading "Save the 8 hour day." Many IA Representatives attended, as well as a busload of IA members, many of whom addressed the Commission, asking them not to take away daily overtime. It could not have been a better demonstration of our opposition to Governor Wilson's mandated proposal. The IWC got our message loud and clear.
	L.A. City Council Support	A week after the San Diego hearing, there was another one in Merced. It was too far for us to bus people and it was a big disappointment for many of us still riding on the success of San Diego. There were only a few people there in opposition and many employer representatives were present who advocated the elimination of overtime pay. Many things happened at this hearing which made it apparent that the IWC was probably going to move forward on this issue. One example: prior to this hearing, Barbara Jerome of Local 706 contacted Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon and convinced him to present a resolution to the City Council opposing the elimination of daily overtime pay. The resolution was adopted and a copy of the resolution was presented to the IATSE at the City Council meeting on April 26th. Barbara was given a copy to take to Merced to read into the public record. However, the chairperson of the Commission asked her not to take the time to read it all, saying "The 'whereas's can go on forever." Yet employer representatives were allowed a half hour or more to present their cases. Shortly afterwards, we were informed the Commission would be making a decision on May 17th. We had to do more and we did. We embarked upon a public awareness campaign, contacting radio, television and newspapers throughout the Los Angeles area and issuing a press release. We urged the public to write letters to the Commission. On May 17th at the public meeting in Oakland, the Industrial Welfare Commission [awaits further news] This whole issue is indicative of the prevailing political agenda of our current lawmakers at both state and federal levels. On April 16th I was present, with other IA representatives, when Robert Reich, U.S. Secretary of Labor, addressed a big crowd of labor leaders in Los Angeles. He talked about the "major attack" on unions going on in Congress right now. He also predicted that if Republicans take over the White House and "If we don't regain Congress" he believes "we will see 60 years of labor victories jeopardized." It is crucial that we all participate in the political process and educate ourselves about what the people we vote for really represent.
	Reprinted from The Motion Picture Editors Guild Newsletter Vol. 17, No. 3 - May/June 1996 Guild Home \| Newsletter Home \| Top of Page Copyright © 1996, All Rights Reserved by The Motion Picture Editors Guild, IATSE Local 776