KPIX-TV PIX-TV in San Francisco First Compensated Workforce to Get the Signed Onto the Air in the Job Done
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EN OP CHANNELS The Newsletter of IBEW Local 45 www.ibew45.org Spring 2015 Projection Perfection Online Training Courses Spotlight on Stewards MEET LACC PROJECTIONIST AMOS ROTHBAUM GIVING MEMBERS A LEG UP TWO LOCAL 45 MEMBERS WHO GET THE JOB DONE PAGE 03 PAGE 03 PAGE 04 Breaking: KRON Members Authorize Strike! ‚ Local 45 members at KRON in San Francisco have unanimously rejected Agreement Thrown Down the Toilet’ management’s latest contract proposal and overwhelmingly voted to New KTVU Owners Ignore Contract authorize a strike. Local 45 Business Manager Elaine Ocasio, Business Representative Hugh McGuigan and others in leadership continue to com- BY MICHAEL MESSINA municate with the employer in an attempt to hammer out a reasonable nion members and leader- hour paid lunch. Now that has agreement. ship are no strangers to con- been reduced to a half hour and is Uflict when it comes to nego- unpaid. This amounts to a 12.5 per- tiating or enforcing contracts in the cent pay cut. They also took away workplace. Fox’s KTVU Channel 2 night differential, short turnaround serves the Bay Area, but lately they premium, master control upgrade haven’t been serving their employ- and the cam tech upgrade. For the ees too well since new ownership members who depend on these took over in October of last year, wages and benefits, this is devastat- essentially disregarding the stipula- ing, causing significant economic tions of the contract set in place and pain and mental stress. slashing wages and benefits. “In the history of Local 45 this “They came in and basically is the worst and most egregious threw it down the toilet,” said IBEW assault on an agreement that we’ve Local 45 Business Manager Elaine seen,” said Northern California Rep Ocasio. “And we worked hard on Hugh McGuigan. “We are currently that contract. That was one of our expending a lot of time and energy NASCAR best, strongest agreements that we trying to get a new agreement in In March, NASCAR’s Auto Club 400 hosted a special ‘Tribute to Labor.’ Pic- had in the Bay Area.” place for our members there.” tured is assistant cameraman Robert Clark as part of a four-person camera Employees used to have a one crew working in the pits at the Fontana Auto Club Speedway where the (CONTINUED ON PAGE 5) race was held. Jobsite Visit: KPIX-TV PIX-TV in San Francisco first compensated workforce to get the signed onto the air in the job done. Klate 1940s, the first television Open Channels recently paid a station in Northern California. Now visit to KPIX and spoke with a num- CBS owned and operated, a lot has ber of employees represented by changed in the world and in media Local 45. The staffers talked about over the course of the last seven de- their jobs, and the value of union cades. One thing that hasn’t changed representation. is the need for a well-trained, fairly- (CONTINUED ON PAGE 8) Hollywood, CA 90028 CA Hollywood, 6255 Sunset Blvd., Ste. 721 Ste. Blvd., Sunset 6255 Bob Lai, an editor at KPIX-TV in San Francisco, has appreciated union mentorship throughout IBEW Local 45 Local IBEW his career. Leading the Charge support and commitment to fight for what’s right. By Elaine Ocasio We are spotlighting our free on-line training in Business Manager, IBEW Local 45 this issue. On page 3 you can read what a couple of members have to say about taking advantage of ecently, much was made of the “Fight of the Local 45s training opportunities. We continue to Century” boxing match between Floyd May- look for ways to help you advance in the work- Rweather and Manny Pacquiao. Well, lately place. Let us know how these courses have helped every day has felt like the “Fight of the Century” when you and feel free to make suggestions of other it comes to our battles with a couple of television sta- training that may assist you in your careers. tions in the Northern CA Bay Area. In other news, I’m happy to announce that the As you can tell from the front page of this news- nomination of Local 45 officers took place in May letter, things are far from golden in the city of the and ballots need to be received by Monday, June Golden Gate. 22 when they will be counted. A union election is Shortly before going to press, we had some break- your opportunity to speak your mind and choose ing news in San Francisco with KRON. Our brothers who you want leading the charge. It is your right and sisters at the television station unanimously as a union member to have this vote – exercise it! rejected management’s latest contract offer, and the members have voted overwhelmingly to authorize In solidarity, a strike. Now, I don’t want to see one of our affili- Elaine Ocasio ates have to go on strike. I’d much rather keep our Business Manager/Financial Secretary members working under the umbrella of a fair and equitable agreement. But if management continues to offer low-ball contracts and continues to not value the hard-working men and women that we represent, then I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen. If ELECTION TIME! Staff Box that includes a strike, so be it. Until that time comes, All election ballots will be mailed out Local 45 leadership is going back to the table with on June 1 and counted June 22. Please management to hammer out an agreement. promptly fill out and submit your ballot. IBEW Local 45 Things aren’t much better across the bay at KTVU Ballots received after 9 a.m. on June 22, 6255 Sunset Blvd # 721 in Oakland. When Fox purchased the station from Cox 2015 will not be counted. We ask that ev- Hollywood, CA 90028 last year the new owners refused to honor the terms eryone participate in the election process (323) 851-5515 of our hard-fought agreement. That’s why we’ve filed by voting! Business Manager/Financial Secretary Unfair Labor Practices against both Fox and Cox. Elaine Ocasio When will management learn that we will not al- Note: Only IBEW 45 members in good- Executive Assistant low them to kick us around? The members of IBEW standing are eligible to vote. Lupe Perez Local 45 are strong in our solidarity, and we have the Dues Administrator Marceil Wright Bookkeeper Anthony Wainaina IBEWIBEW LOCALLOCAL 4545 SHIRTSHIRT && CAPCAP Membership Department Rebecca Lehrmann Price: $22.00 Size: L/XL To Order Call Description: Made in Business Representatives the U.S.A., navy blue, cotton twill spandex, jockey shape, Southern California (323) 851-5515 embroidered cap. Victor Marrero PROUD TO BE UNION! Northern California Hugh McGuigan This newsletter produced by Senders Communications Group Publisher - Cherri Senders Editor - Robert Fulton Writer - Michael Messina Writer - Kelly Ross Art Director - Michael Teitelbaum Find Us On Facebook! Price: $25.00 , $26.00 (XXL) Shirt Sizes: M, L, XL , XXL www.facebook.com/IBEW45 Description: Made in the U.S.A., navy blue, pre-shrunk, 100 % cotton shirt. Have a photo you’d like to share? Email us All sales are final at [email protected] 2 OPEN CHANNELS Spring 2015 www.ibew45.org Projection Perfection Meet Amos Rothbaum, Projectionist, LA City College mos Rothbaum, without question, is a master for damage and repairs them if necessary, and of his trade. As a projectionist for Los Ange- has brought in much of his own equipment to Ales City College, he emits a certain amount make the setup as top notch as possible. of pride and joy for a job that most would consider Rothbaum, a native of Venezuela, has been lucky to have. He is one of the last of his kind; a pro- projecting since the early ’80s and has been fession that has steadily been taken over by advances at City College since 1986. He is a licensed in technology. And while Rothbaum embraces the projectionist (this is especially needed for one benefits of new technology, he also recognizes some- of his other jobs where he will sometimes thing has gotten lost in the transition. show nitrate film, which is flammable and “In regular theaters until last year, you got a film can be dangerous) and got into the profession print, they would build it up into one big reel, thread through his love of film. He enjoyed watching, the film, press the button once, film is over, re-thread but always hated when the presentation was if necessary, press the button again, you’re done,” flubbed. Rothbaum said inside the dark projection room “If I’m projecting you know it will be in where just outside in the theater a class had begun focus and it will be framed correctly and in watching the 1948 Italian classic “The Bicycle Thief.” the right aspect ratio,” he said. “Here we do the old fashioned style, like it was in the And in the same realm of getting things beginning. I go from reel to reel doing changeovers right, Rothbaum says IBEW 45 has been great going from projector to projector.” since he returned to the union recently, get- Rothbaum has an affinity for film over digital, ting what he calls honest and real representa- calling it cleaner and more vibrant. He will show 35 tion, and specifically referring to the atten- mm and 16mm at City College, and while “The Bicycle tiveness of Business Representative Victor Thief” is neither of these, he will make sure the ex- Marrero.