President’s Report
In Local 600’s recent newsletter, President Poster took “a moment to celebrate our recent victory at the IATSE convention to adopt our resolution of long hours” but then, very quickly switches “to our attention the equally pressing issue of Radio Frequency transmitters.” He writes about the dangers of Radio Frequency and says that “Local 600 is taking this matter to the industry-wide Safety Committee which established safety regulations for the motion picture and television industry. We want to make sure our members aren’t put in harm’s way.”
Poster has not taken the issue of fatigue to the Industry Wide Safety Committee. Poster has not notified the CSATF of the unanimous decision of all locals which begins with this, “There exists indisputable evidence from scientific, medical and empirical studies linking sleep deprivation and fatigue to critical safety and health hazards.”
Poster, talking about Radio Frequency, urges workers not to be silent out of fear of losing a job. “I want you all to know that the union will be there for you on any kind of work related problem.” That’s about RF. How about after the fifth sixteen-hour day, a member says it’s not safe on this set? Will it be sufficient if the 1st AD offers a ride with a sleep deprived teamster to a hotel?
Again, Poster about RF, “Your safety comes first!” The exclamation mark is correct within the quote. The bizarre, illogical anti-human attitude of Poster and the very, very high and detached autocrats who run the profitable business enterprises do not want their “managerial flexibility” challenged.
It is the complete and verifiable truth, sleep deprived workers are unsafe, unhealthy, dangerous to themselves, the public and destructive to family life.
To equate this as just another equally pressing issue, Poster evidences either despicable ignorance or calculated avoidance of the truth.