TEAMSTERS LOCAL 399 QUARTERLY NEWS AUGUST 2015 • ISSUE No 6 TEAMSTERS TEAMSTERS STRONG UNITED LOCAL 399 LOCAL 399 WORKING HARD FOR THE MEMBERS GREETINGS SISTERS & BROTHERS am happy to report that our Members have overwhelmingly ratified both the outlets, many issues that were of concern to them. I have no problem with an “Black Book” and Location Manager agreements. For the first time, we open, honest debate but I was taken aback by the misinformation and lies chose to have a ratification vote by mail. The reason we chose to ratify in this that were expressed by and between our Members. We are a fraternal manner was to be more inclusive of our Membership. As you may recall, organization. You are all Brothers & Sisters. Please remember, what we ratified the “Black Book” contract in 2012 at a specially called meet- you post on social media is read by the producers and other Locals ing with less than 10% of our Members deciding the outcome for around the country. It is hurtful to the Members you disparage everyone in 2012. By doing a mail bal- and it is harmful to this institution, lot, approximately 35% of our “Black not to me personally. It may also Book” covered Members participated cause harm to your own reputa- in this ratification process. We had even tion in the industry. We should be better results for the Location Manag- striving to bring this Union togeth- er ratification. While we still need to er in solidarity. If you read some- do more work to engage the Members thing that troubles you on social Iwho didn’t vote, it’s obvious that the media, stop by the Union, call us, mail ballot process was a resounding email us or come to a meeting and success and one that we trust will set a ask your questions. You can also new standard for future ratifications. call anonymously. I welcome Another change that I’ve imple- criticism & debate. I do not mented is having our Driver condone the behavior ex- Steering Committee in- hibited by a handful of volved in our negotia- our Members. Think tions. The committee before you post! Members who attended saw I want to give you a the whole process and under- sense of how far we’ve stand far better how complex and come in balancing our budget difficult negotiations can be. We all since 2014. Over the five-year spent many evenings and weekends period between 2009 and 2013 our here at the Union going over the sur- Local had an average yearly defi- veys, putting together proposals and cit of $316,527.65. In 2012 alone, identifying effective strategies for the our deficit was $636,155.33. In negotiations. As a result, we made 2014 I was able to reduce that defi- good gains in both contracts. I’d like cit to $150,385.00 (excluding the to thank them all again for their hard $115,000.00 in wages, benefits & work on behalf of our Membership. credit card expenses that was paid While dealing with many oth- to the previous staff). While I don’t er issues for our Members, we’ve expect we’ll be in the black until also been meeting with our Cast- 2016, I do believe our deficit for this ing Director & Associate Casting Director Steering commit- year will be reduced by another $100,000.00 putting our Local in a tee to discuss the issues prior to negotiations with the AMPTP. We much better financial position than we’ve been in since 2008. I invite very much have our work cut out for us in these negotiations but I have any Member who has any questions about the financial health of this Union faith that both Locals 399 and 817 (NY) will do everything possible to to make an appointment and come down to the hall to review our books. achieve the best agreement we can for this hard working group of Teamsters. I have personally negotiated every contract for every bargaining unit no matter During the ratification process, some of our Members posted to social media CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 2 __ PAGE 8 & 9 _ THE BIZ: SPOTLIGHT: Drivers Steering Committee Reversal of Runaway Production PAGE10 PAGE 3 __ Q&A With Steve Dayan SUCCESS! Ratification of Black Book & Location 1st Annual Classic Car & Motorcycle Show Managers Agreement PAGE 4 __ PAGE 11 “Pretty Little Liers” Keeping Members Local The Yitzhak Rabin Award PAGE 5 ___________ www.ht399.org “Pretty Little Liers” Keeping Members Local PAGE 12 Visit your Union website: Union your Visit 246 N PERMIT o AFLAC Events, Announcements, Retirees and Van Nuys, CA Nuys, Van Obituaries 91602-1262 PAID PAGE 6 & 7 North Hollywood, CA Hollywood, North U.S. POSTAGE U.S. MPTF Celebrates The Power of Service 4747 Vineland Avenue Vineland 4747 NON-PROFIT ORG. NON-PROFIT Entertainment Industry & Electronic Age Teamsters Local 399 Local Teamsters Teamster August 2015 Newsreel.indd 1 7/30/15 10:11 PM A big thank you to the bands: A Touch of n June 13th, 2015 Teamsters Local 399 TEAMSTERS LOCAL 399: Grey, Rock Tribe, & Desert Dragons for hosted its first ever Classic Car & Mo- keeping the day lively with great tunes all torcycle Show! The event was held at Rese- day long! da Park and was open to all Members and their families as well as the general public. We’d also like to say a special thank you to Overall, the day was a big success. There RELEVANT INDUSTRY ARTICLES FROM TOP ENTERTAINMENT SOURCES the following fine folks. This 1st Annual were great cars and motorcycles, and SUCCESSFUL Classic Car & Motorcycle Show would not great vendors, food and music. We want have happened without you: to thank all of you who brought your cars Secretary-Treasurer Local 399, Steve THE MOTION PICTURE BUZZ Oand motorcycles out for everyone to enjoy 1ST ANNUAL CALIFORNIA ‘HAS STARTED TO CLASSIC CAR & REVERSE’ RUNAWAY PRODUCTION, MOTORCYCLE at this inaugural event. As the first-of-its- Dayan, Jack Fisher, Business Agent and kind and long-overdue event, we know Chief Event Organizer, Woody & Donna STATE SENATE LEADER SAYS we’ve got some kinks to work out as we SHOW! Wood, Keith Green, Courtney Brignoni, move forward with future events, but over- Amy Gorton, Donna Cul- all we were very pleased by well, Dean Winton, Anthony the responses we got about Shields, Larry Tozzi, Greg Pa- the day. To all those who tone, Nick Davis, and Depart- came out and participated ment of Recreation & Parks – we truly appreciate your en- Reseda, all the Local 399 staff thusiasm, support, and your who came out to work the TED JOHNSON - VARIETY SENIOR EDITOR input on how we can make State Senate California has seen the event. peaking on the Para- flight of big-budget mov- future events even bigger mount Studios lot to and better. For those of you President Pro Tem ies and one-hour dra- “I had a great team of peo- the Hollywood Cham- who missed it this time, we mas to other states like ple on my side for this event. ber of Commerce Kevin look forward to seeing you Kevin de Leon said Friday Georgia and Louisiana, Couldn’t have done it without de Leon, a Democrat, as well as other coun- at next year’s celebration! cited the 11 TV series them,” Jack Fisher said. “It was tries anxious to boost a great accomplishment to see awarded credits in the that California’s overhauled There were cars and motor- employment and tour- this whole event come togeth- first round of selection cycles of every shape and size ism. De Leon, the leader er. I have wanted to see some- under the expanded film and TV tax credit is and from every era. Even in negotiating the final thing like this available to the program. Among them the Joint Council 42 Team- agreement with Gov. Jer- Membership for quite some were four series relocat- reversing the flight of ster semi-truck stood proud ry Brown to expand the time now. The positive re- Sing to the state, including on Victory Blvd for the day. tax credit, declared, “We sponse surrounding the event HBO’s “Veep”. production from the state. The 42 North Horsemen have started to reverse makes me excited for next were out in full force along that trend here in the y e ar.” “The film tax credit is state in 2015.” with the Teamsters Local 399 working, and it will Women’s Caucus who were This marks the beginning of maintain our status as the selling their Rosie-The-Riv- “Once again, we are showing the world that there SOME OF THE 2015 CAR SHOW ORGANIZERS: AMY GORTON, COURTNEY a new family tradition for Lo- entertainment capital of the world,” said de Leon. eter-inspired t-shirts, designed by 399 Or- BRIGNONI, WOODY WOOD, JACK FISHER, STEVE DAYAN, ANTHONY SHEI- is no better place for film as well as television pro- LDS, GREG KARSON, AND DONNA WOOD. NOT PICTURED: KEITH GREEN, cal 399 Teamsters’ Members - an event Last year, state lawmakers more than tripled the size ganizer Ernie Barraza. This was their first DEAN WINTON, MIKE CHISHOLM, NICK DAVIS, AND DONNA CULWELL. duction than right here in California, and in Hol- BY Teamsters FOR Teamsters. It’s time to of the credit to $330 million annually, and shifted event and we look forward to seeing more lywood, California specifically,” he told the crowd. celebrate the expertise, artistry, heart and the selection process from a lottery to a ratio based from this group soon.