When I lived and worked over in England and Ireland and was a member of both Irish Actor’s Equity and NATKE – National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees. The latter being, at the time, the powerful union that controlled film and television workers.
I wonder if it is still as strong in the industry today ?
I once worked on a film in Ireland – whose name will go unmentioned It was one of those period pieces with an “all star” cast and a ton of extras.
My assistant and I were part of a very few that were hired in Ireland and not hired in England. .When we negotiated our contracts, I told my Assst. to let me do the bargaining. We both wound up getting the same amount of pay and what I thought was a very good contract.
Naive youth that I was ( 1968 it was ) I somehow got roped into being Shop Steward by the NATKE rep !
Long story short, I’d negotiated a contract that included double and treble time for night shooting and seven day continual work etc. I may have been naive but I wasn’t stupid and it wasn’t my first rodeo.
What I didn’t know was that I was making more money than my boss and his wife. He was definitely not happy when he found out ! He was a Department Head at Shepperton Studios in England, at the time.
Not only was he gunning for me but about 3/4 of the way through the film, we wound up in a labor dispute with the American producers and as Shop Steward. I was smack dab in the middle, arguing for a bunch of people who didn’t take the time to read their contracts before signing “over the stamp” and now where unhappy with what they were getting paid.
You can imagine the rest….
That was my one and only time as a union steward !
WOODNFLINT almost 8 years ago
No matter what…………. if Andy picked it, it will lose for sure…..a sure thing, it is…………….
jbk864 almost 8 years ago
“Two Peoples, separated by a common language.” (Sir George Bernhard Shaw)
Linguist almost 8 years ago
When I lived and worked over in England and Ireland and was a member of both Irish Actor’s Equity and NATKE – National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees. The latter being, at the time, the powerful union that controlled film and television workers.
I wonder if it is still as strong in the industry today ?
Godfreydaniel almost 8 years ago
If it were named Union Pacific would it be an Iron Horse?
Fan o’ Lio. almost 8 years ago
Linguist almost 8 years ago
I once worked on a film in Ireland – whose name will go unmentioned It was one of those period pieces with an “all star” cast and a ton of extras.
My assistant and I were part of a very few that were hired in Ireland and not hired in England. .When we negotiated our contracts, I told my Assst. to let me do the bargaining. We both wound up getting the same amount of pay and what I thought was a very good contract.
Naive youth that I was ( 1968 it was ) I somehow got roped into being Shop Steward by the NATKE rep !
Long story short, I’d negotiated a contract that included double and treble time for night shooting and seven day continual work etc. I may have been naive but I wasn’t stupid and it wasn’t my first rodeo.
What I didn’t know was that I was making more money than my boss and his wife. He was definitely not happy when he found out ! He was a Department Head at Shepperton Studios in England, at the time.
Not only was he gunning for me but about 3/4 of the way through the film, we wound up in a labor dispute with the American producers and as Shop Steward. I was smack dab in the middle, arguing for a bunch of people who didn’t take the time to read their contracts before signing “over the stamp” and now where unhappy with what they were getting paid.
You can imagine the rest….
That was my one and only time as a union steward !
Fan o’ Lio. almost 8 years ago