Steven
Poster, current president of ICG is running for re-election on the basis that he
has more experience and better relationships with the other industry locals than
his opponent. Award-winning cinematographer and challenger Haskel Wexler is
intent on fighting for better working conditions, as well as improving
communication within the union ranks.
Unprecedented Use of
Web
The camps of both presidential candidates seeking to lead
Local 600, a union that represents camera assistants, operators, directors of
photography and publicists, used their Web sites to voice not only campaign
promises, but to dispel rumors on other matters. In addition, each presidential
candidate posted a list of the candidates they supported for the other National
Executive Board positions.
“There’s never been this extensive use of Web sites in a
campaign,” said Local 600 member and camera assistant Jeff Goldenberg.
However, Challenger Haskell Wexler pointed out that he was
not running on a slate or telling union members for whom they should vote. In
fact, Wexler said he has not even seen ViewPoint600, the site linked within his
personal campaign site. Instead he stipulated that those who posted
on the site signed their name to it. Incumbent Steven Poster, however, sent a
flyer to members encouraging them not to vote for Wexler and the candidates he
supported, Goldenberg said.
Conjecture and
Controversy
“What’s unfortunate about this campaign is that it doesn’t
revolve around our issues, it revolves around which lies you’re going to tell
about this person,” Wexler said. “Fights are destructive.”
This hostile election comes on the heels of a union divided
when Poster was elected in August after the current president, Gary Dunham, was
impeached.
“Last summer I was involved with a group of people who
identified things that were illegal in relation to our bylaws by our president,”
Poster said. “We felt that they were so serious that we brought charges against
him.”
After a two-day trial, the group’s National Executive Board
voted to impeach Dunham on three of six counts. Poster said he had not intended
to run for the open position, but changed his mind when he “saw a leadership
vacuum. I thought I should put my money where my mouth is and finish out his
term.”
But Dunham’s oust is only one piece of the puzzle. While his
actual crimes are unclear, some members blame him for the removal of the
mandatory camera operator from the Hollywood Basic Agreement after negotiations
last year.
“This issue of eliminating the camera operator has been up
for 15 years and each year Local 600 was able to fend off the attack every
time,” Poster said. “What happened this time? Arrogance.”
Poster said he tried to prepare Wexler, who was second
national president at the time, and Dunham for negotiations, but they blew him
off.
“They were unprepared and lost staffing for operators,” he
said.
But Wexler denied this, saying he wasn’t invited to
negotiations, and places the responsibility on the shoulders of ICG Executive
Director Bruce Doering for the loss.
“Contracts are made from on high, not by the membership,”
Wexler said. “Doering is supposed to be our chief negotiator.”
According to Wexler, two items were up for elimination at
negotiations. The first was the dues check-off, in which the money goes straight
from the employer to the union, omitting the middleman. The second item was the
camera operator provision. One item had to go and ultimately it was the latter.
“No one said this was wrong,” Wexler said.
Doering declined to comment on the grounds that it would be
“inappropriate to discuss an internal union matter in a public forum during an
election,” he said.
The Runaway
Production Conundrum
Another concern affecting the guild is runaway production.
“It is an issue,” Wexler said. “Jobs are going overseas.”
One way to handle the issue would be to file a 301A petition
with the trade representative in Washington,
D.C. to bring charges against
Canada for
unfair practices.
“I’m mildly in favor of 301A, but I’m not in favor of
spending union money on it,” Wexler said.
Another option is to create local incentives that match
Canada’s. Poster
is in favor of promoting these state subsidies.
“They keep production in
America; keep
our members in work,” he said.
Matters Closer to
Home
However, as the May 11 deadline for ballots approaches, both
candidates have become more focused on the real issues affecting the union,
signifying that they just want what’s best for the members.
In running to serve a full three-year term, Poster wants to
finish what he started. As president, he intends to rebuild the union’s
relationships with other locals in an effort to have stronger bargaining
power.
“I’m fighting to regain the respect our union had within the
community; bargaining unit, international and producers,” he said. “I’m running
for the best, safest, most lucrative working conditions for all our
members.”
Wexler also realizes the strength in solidarity.
“We work side by side with other IA members—improved active
cooperation with all IA Locals will serve us and strengthen IATSE,” Wexler said
in a letter sent to members.
“We will figure out a way to have all
Hollywood guilds and unions stand together.”
Poster plans to maintain an open dialog with members through
communication during craft meetings, having leadership training classes for
future leaders, and starting a new training program for a negotiations
committee. Wexler also wants members to feel they can talk to him without
fear.
“If elected, I will be responsive to a membership who will be
free to propose, discuss and criticize, without fear of isolation or reprisal,”
he said in the letter.
However, his passion seems focused on the excessive hours and
healthcare issues members face. His recent documentary “Who Needs Sleep?” which
was sent out along with campaign materials, is an effort to draw more attention
to these problems.
“A union should represent us for better working conditions,
wages, safety, job security and an opportunity to have work that enables us to
enjoy family, friends and quality of life,” he said in a letter sent to the
members after his nomination with a DVD of
the documentary.
Because members must work a certain amount of hours to
receive healthcare, they will work any job they can at any hours.
“People lose healthcare at the very time they need it,” he
said.
Ballots were sent out April 10 and are due May 11. The
results will be announced May 16.
