Praxius:
You wrote:
.......
As I've written in previous posts in this thread, I have experience that is exactly on topic, and no, he cannot do all the writing himself. Not enough hours in the day.
Well my above quote kinda answered my own question in the legal sense.... but not enoguh hours in the day? His show is an hour long... the monologue or however you spell it is about 10 mins long. Hell I used just take a lunch break here at work and check the four news sites I view across the globe and in the previous forums I went to, I'd normally have at least 13 new posts or so in regards to what happened in the day, comments on what occured and I'd bring about a topic for others to debate over.... usually in a funny manner if I can. I don't do that much here, considdering there already seems to be a member or two doing that for CTV, CBC etc.... so it seems pointless for me to do it.... although I view other news sites, I feel I'd repeat.
Like I said, personally I have no problems writting what comes to mind and saying what is up there.... I feel writting isn't that hard to do, but once again, I am not trivializing the writter's position, as I have background education on writting for shows, short stories, movies, etc.... so my personal view is biased in that respect. Every job and every position is important, as if it wasn't, there wouldn't be a job for it in the first place.
Something else to point out: in the entertainment industry, the unions are often the least expensive route to go. Let me demonstrate with a rock and roll and a film example:
A major rock show was coming through Alberta, with stops on Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Rocky Mountain House and Lethbridge. The first two cities were union, the last three were non-union. Our union load in and set up took about three and a half hours, with about twenty five stagehands (trust me, that's a small stadium show).
The best of the three non-union load ins took five hours, the worst, seven. The stagehands were inexperienced, uncooperative and at times unsafe. According to the roadies, they had to "have their frikkin hands held through every job" they were given.
Movie examples: production managers schedule for less shooting time with a union crew - the rule of thumb is unions will shoot in three days what non-union will shoot in four. Why is this the case? Why is this so for rock shows as well?
Fair enough, everybody can find bad examples of everything, as I imagine I can find a few examples of corrupt unions and the sort.... that doesn't prove that there still are not any good and respectible companies and non-unioned collectives.... much as my examples of poor unions wouldn't be enough to say you can't trust unions.
Two major reasons: ability and philosophy. Our union tests for ability and demands industry-specific training and references before accepting that person as a permitee, then there is an extended period of evaluation before we actually accept them as a member. After that, the member is expected to continue their training and to gain certification in as many departments as possible. We also do things like invest in equipment to do our jobs (I have a couple thousand dollars worth of rigging gear, and a few thousand more in carpentry tools).
All of which I have gone through directly with the company I work for without the requirement of a Union. I have several certificates, three college diplomas in three different, yet similar fields, I was tested on industry-specific equipment, scenarios, safety regulations, etc etc.... I was hired as the best and most experienced for the position I am currently working in. I was placed on a three month tiral basis to see that what I claimed I knew how to do was in fact true. I am still expected to keep up to date with current technologies and developments. There are numerous evaluations.
The only difference is I don't have to deal with the BS of a Union.... but to each their own.
The philosophy part is to give the engager the best quality show that will get anywhere in the world, and for the best price, and to be paid for every single thing we do. We want the company that hires us to make as much money as possible - this means they stay in business, and they will be able to pay us more if they are more profitable.
Sounds similar to my own personal mentality, and I don't require a club to make me think this way... but to each their own.
Decades ago, we learned that the fate of the company, and our fates, were deeply entwined. If the company thrives, we do.
We are as likely to counsel the company to save money as anything else.
I do the same thing with my own education, experience and my continual study of the industry in which I work in.... as things change, my employer relies on not just themselves to be kept up to date, but for myself and other employees in the company to find new and better ways to do something that can bring better business and profit to the company and ourselves as a collective. I don't focus my work in a Union... I focus my work in the company I plan on working with for a very long time, and with any luck, until I retire. My involvement in the company is a personal one.... my position is that of one that nobody else has and I bring a paticular benifit to the company I work for and vice versa.
But don't forget for a second, if the union left, we'd all have wage rollbacks, go on salary (that means no overtime), be hired and fired on a whim*, and safety standards would be compromised.
That's a bit baseless if you ask me, as I'm case in point of not being in a Union and I'm not being screwed around. The current job I work in is on Salary, but the last three companies I worked for in this industry were not and I was paid by the hour + overtime... I personally prefer salary, but I also had the choice of the two when I was bring hired.
I was never fired on a "Whim" as you put it, as by law and the department of labour, a company must have grounds / reason to fire you, not just because they can replace you with someone cheaper or they don't like your face... it doesn't happen.... at least where I live and if you allow something like that to happen and you don't report it, then it's your own fault for not taking action.
Oh and I am still not stating anything in regards to an abolishment of Unions... I am not sure how many damn times I have to repeat this for people to understand.
*one theatre production manager says "Stagehands are an infinitely replaceable commodity."
No job position is an infinitely replaceable commodity... if it was, then machines would be doing the job. Every job is equally important as the next one.... from the guy guarding the nuclear weapons in the bunker, to buddy cooking his Big Mac for lunch.
