[BC] Operators

[Dana Puopolo]

I agree 100% Richard.

In Hollywood, the type of work we do is considered: "below the line". We are
'below the line' employees. We are the ones whose names fly by in small print
at the end of the movie.

Yet in Hollywood we would be quite well off. Why?  

UNIONS!

Virtually every 'below the line' employee belongs to the union. They insure
that their members get paid well and have decent benefits. I know a LOT of
people who work in the film industry "below the line" and not ONE of them
doesn't regret being in their union!

Want me to work ten hours today? Sure-you will PAY.
Want me to work over 40 hours this week? Sure-you will PAY.
Want me to come in again 8 hours from now? No problem-PAY.
Want me to work all night?-PAY!
Want me on a Sunday?-SURE! You'll REALLY PAY! (double time!)

How many of us can say that? How many of YOU work 50 plus hours per week and
pull all nighters for no additional pay? 

When I worked for Jacor/Clear Channel here in L.A. I was in IBEW. My base pay
was 52K, yet I made well over $85K per year. Why? OVERTIME! IBEW took 1% of my
pay-and I happily paid it to them.

When I moved to Tucson as market DoE, my base pay went up about $20K, but my
income DROPPED-and I was working more hours there as well. Why? No overtime
pay.

It seems to me that WE are the dumb ones here-all my friends in working
Hollywood are MUCH better of financially then most of us are!

-D

From: RichardBJohnson at comcast.net

The last I checked, radio and television exists because entertainers, deejays,
PDs, announcers, and the lot, have produced a marketable product. Engineering
is a means to an end, not the end in itself. You are simply one of the workers
who helps bring this product to the consumers. Get used to it. It is certainly
a decent trade, but it is becoming as obsolete as other laudable trades like
typesetting and tool and die making.