CMU School of Drama


Wednesday, October 05, 2011

IATSE, Teamsters set sights on health care

Variety: Healthcare costs are emerging as the key issue in next year's contract negotiations for Hollywood's two below-the-line unions, the Intl. Alliance of Theatrical & Stage Employees and the Intl. Brotherhood of Teamsters. No negotiation dates have been set for the master contracts, which expire July 31, but both unions have ramped up their activity to heighten membership awareness on the specifics amid rising healthcare costs.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

EYES on the ARTS has Issued a Donor ALERT

http://www.pghartswatch.org/Alert-5.html

Anonymous said...

It's unfortunate that the number of hours over a six-month period that these union members are required to work in order to get full benefits has been raised so significantly. I can imagine that people might have a hard time even getting those hours because of this economy and the need for theaters to save money and therefore, I'm assuming, hire only exactly as any hands as they can scrape by with and no more. The health care situation in this country is looking more and more grim as members of more professions are having their eligibility and benefits threatened. My mom is concerned about her health-care as a teacher, which is a huge worry for her because she has pre-existing conditions that may not qualify her for a new insurance plan if this one is taken away from Clark County teachers. I think that's total bull. In a country this advanced, no one, whether a stagehand or a teacher or what have you, should have to be terrified that they will not be able to cover the costs of their medical expenses. I truly hope that these stagehands are able to work something out with the unions in their favor.