What is the state of my Union?

What kind of Union is this, that fights for tax incentives to powerful companies?

Tax incentives are our public money, that should go to schools, hospitals or infrastructure projects instead of giant private broadcast companies

I work in the Canadian Film industry.

I am a member of IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees) Local 873

TV- and movie work is highly Unionized in North America.

I am all for workers representation and collective bargaining.

But what is my Union fighting for - more jobs, but not better jobs?

Quantity instead of Quality. It makes our work unhealthy, quite unsafe, and we are easier to replace.

Often I am not sure if my Union is a Union or just an Instrument to keep the employees quite. Or maybe the leadership got too cozy with the Networks and Politics.

My Leaders go lobbying with our Major to Los Angeles, to get the Studios and Networks to film here. For that, they convince the Government to offer tax incentives and go easy on Labor Laws and regulations.

The leaders tell us, which Politician promises more Tax incentives to the Film-industry (say Corporations)

We compete with other Industries and Unions, about who gets public money.

And we compete with other Film-Locals about who gets the precious Filmjobs.

I know, here I blog about it, instead of shouting it at my Union-leaders.

So far, I never even made it to a Union -meeting.

When I am working, I am plainly too tired, to get up early on my only real day off, drive to this building, one can not reach by public transport and then start a fight.

I always work on-set, with the shooting crew. We are all too tired for meetings. But we need to find our voices and change this Union.

So far, when I asked my Union rep, why we can not get shorter work hoursI was told, that the producer do not want to talk about work hours.

Some people point out that we have higher paychecks than off-set workers. (solely generated through working more hours)

But at what cost?

We worked 12-16 hour days, constant changing shifts, never knowing when our day starts or ends. During the week it is impossible to enjoy an evening with friends or kids. We are exhausted, which diminishes creativity and makes it hard to think straight.

I know this is whining and high grounds. We do get overtime paid (but no nightshifts)

What if the public one days asks why they should support an environmentally disastrous industry that sells brainwashing, anxiety creating bullshit and creates many health and social costs for its employees, which the society as a whole will have to carry.

What will my Union do then? What should I do?