CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
Let's Put a Stop to the Post-PA Problem
by Cathy Repola
 Cathy Repola |
There is a situation that is of growing concern to those of us who administer the Guild contracts and we need the help of the members to effectively address it. The use of post-production assistants has expanded beyond the original intent of that job and is eroding the role of apprentice editors. Post-PAs basically used to be runners but now are taking on the duties of an apprentice, which is a blatant violation of our union contract. This trend undermines everything our union is about and certainly erodes conditions that the Editors Guild has fought long and hard to obtain and sustain.
There are really several facets to this problem. The primary one is that instead of the union apprentices being hired on shows, the Post-PA does their work. We know that this is promoted by post-production management personnel and we will be dealing with that through the proper channels. The main focus of this article is to address our members directly in order to emphasize the importance of this situation.
Much of this problem is actually encouraged by assistant editors and editors. I can’t even count the number of phone calls we receive from editors telling us what an integral part of the editing team a particular Post-PA has become and how this Post-PA has worked on several shows with him/her before, and now this Post-PA has learned so much that they’d like to help get this Post-PA into the union. We usually get these requests when there is just about 30 days left of work on the show. Why? So these Post-PAs can use those 30 days to legitimately work and get paid as an apprentice and use those 30 days to get placed on the Roster, when they have been doing the work all along. These kinds of requests are denied.
So what’s wrong with this picture? Everything. First of all, you have
someone who generally makes $500-$600 per week without any health or pension
benefits–– no overtime, golden time, night premiums, etc.––who
is actually performing the duties that fall under the jurisdiction of this
union and should be compensated as such. Secondly, this is prohibiting apprentices
who are already on the Roster the opportunities to work and to be able to
be the ones who become the “integral part of the editing team”
so that they can move up through the ranks and become successful assistants
and eventually editors.
In addition, it often has a ripple affect. The Post-PA performs the work of
an apprentice, and an assistant editor––who is called and paid
as an apprentice––performs the duties of a second or third assistant.
We think it is clear that this proliferation of abuse must stop. We ask that editors stop seeking to make the Post-PA an integral part of the team and to exercise whatever power they have to assure that only apprentices perform the work of an apprentice and assistants the work of assistants. We ask assistant editors to stop accepting apprentice pay when they’re really working as an assistant. And we ask all of you to call us and to work with us to help protect the proper structure within editorial crews.
We intend to spend a lot of time and energy eliminating these practices. As stated earlier, we recognize it is not only our members who encourage this, but with the help of all of you, we will be able to make inroads to end this much more effectively and quickly.
The Guild encourages active apprentices to place their names on the available for work list. You can do so on our website (www.editorsguild.com) or by phoning the office.
We will be visiting editorial rooms everywhere and will eventually get through all of them. We recognize this is a big project. It is our responsibility to protect our contracts and our members. And it is the responsibility of every member to assist us in this process.
When we started our campaign against overtime abuses, we knew things wouldn’t change overnight, but we have made great progress with that campaign and it will continue to be a major focus of our work. Many of you have seen the direct results of our efforts and we believe you will begin to see changes in this area as well.
Please call our Field Representatives and report these and any other contract
violations.
LA Office: 323-876-4770
Catherine Cusimano: ext. 239
Jim Saunders: ext. 231
New York Office: 212-302-0700
Annie Ballard: ext. 204
Cathy Repola is the Assistant Executive Director of the Editors Guild.