Republic Windows Employees to Speak at Event

If you’re in Chicago tomorrow evening, the Jane Addams Hull House Museum is hosting a session with United Electrical workers from UE Local 1110 who participated in the sit-in strike at Republic Windows & Doors last year. 

From a WBEZ press release:

The program will include stories from UE workers, a video by the Republic Workers UE Local 1110; Q&A moderated by Fran Tobin, Jobs with Justice; and a reception to follow.

According to WBEZ, the free event begins at 6:00 pm, and is sponsored by a collection of local unions and pro-labor groups.

SAG Strike’s Value Questioned by Famous Members

This time last year, the Writer’s Guild strike was one of the top news stories, as negotiations over payment for online viewing and the definitions of writers and producers seemed to fluctuate nightly before our eyes.  It’s a sign of the times, then, that the Screen Actor’s Guild can call for a strike vote over many of the same issues a year later and hardly even make a dent in the news cycle.  Another sign?  An open letter from prominent SAG members opposing the move.

In case you hadn’t heard, SAG has scheduled a strike vote to take place January 2, with voter cards to be counted later in the month.

Some Hollywood heavyweights came out against authorizing a strike today. In a letter penned Monday, over 130 Hollywood megastars urged the Screen Actors Guild to vote against striking. George Clooney, Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, among many others, said authorizing a strike would create more economic hardship:

“We support our union and … the issues we’re fighting for, but we do not believe in all good conscience that now is the time to be putting people out of work…”

They called upon the SAG to join in talks when other Hollywood guilds contracts expire in three years. Among chief concerns of the stars is the financial effect a strike would have on the crews and craft services of movie productions. The stars also don’t see the need to use a strike as a bargaining tool. They contend a strike should only be used when negotiations fail.

There are a group of high profile celebrities that support authorizing a strike, including Mel Gibson, Holly Hunter and Martin Sheen.

On the web:  Jonathan Handel has a copy of the letter at his blog, Digital Media Law.

The Job Bored: Katsup Edition

• UAW ends strike at International Truck, drops ULP charges. No, we’re not taking the heat for this one – the UAW strikes at bright lights & loud noises these days. No one with a life could keep up. [AP]

• Scandal over illegal workers and clashes with unions over Social Security overhaul ousts government’s head of labor. In Greece. Had you fooled for a minute though, right? [NYT]

• The Killers back in court on former manager’s $3 mil. unpaid commision suit. We know this just happened, but the Killers are so five minutes ago. [TMZ.com (it's a gossip website - ask your wife/daughter)]

• Writer’s Guild having trouble with Conglomerate Conglomerate, decides to just work with conglomerates for better result. [Official release, via UnitedHollywood.com] NOTE: comprehensive update on the WGA sitch to follow some time this week. I promise.