Hollywood

Laugh Test: Naive Hollywood Actors Shill for Big Labor's "Card Check" Scheme

Nick Cote — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:34:39 -0400

Recently, former West Wing actors Martin Sheen and Bradley Whitford lobbied in favor of the woefully misnamed Employee Free Choice Act (better known as the Card Check Forced Unionism Bill) at a press conference with so-called American Rights at Work, the same militant lobbying group which Labor Secretary Hilda Solis played a formal role while a member of Congress.

CNS News asked the actors why they support a bill which would effectively eliminate the secret ballot in workplace unionization drives. Whitford responded (emphasis mine),

The notion that the labor movement is out to abolish their own members’ rights to a secret ballot just doesn’t pass the laugh test. And people who are propagating the rumor that it does, their sudden compassion for worker’s rights is just not believable.

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Hollywood Union's Not-So-Secret Ballot

Nick Cote — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:56:11 -0400

Now we know why union bosses don't believe in the secret ballot: they don't really know what a secret ballot looks like.

Film crew union IATSE recently conducted a vote of its members to ratify its contract proposal with Hollywood producers. The union bosses sent each member a large packet containing the proposal, a ballot, and two reply envelopes.

After marking the ballot, members were instructed to put the ballot in a white envelope (which does not include any identifying information), and then put the white envelope in a blue envelope (which does include identifying information).

The problem? The white envelopes were see-through, meaning union bosses could automatically throw out votes opposing the union boss line. Worse, because the outer envelope contains the voter's name, union goons would also know which members voted which way.

Does Clooney Share Heston's Disdain for Forced Union Dues?

Justin Hakes — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:39:19 -0400

(Photo from www.cineplex.com)

If a recent article in Variety is any indication, it sounds like Hollywood heavyweight George Clooney may share the late Charlton Heston's distaste for forced unionism. He told Variety about his recent decision to resign his formal union membership:

"When your own union doesn't back what you've done, the only honorable thing to do is not participate."

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New Video: Right to Work Report Spotlights Hollywood Forced Unionism Abuse

Justin Hakes — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:28:50 -0500

National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix details the Foundation's efforts to help Sai Ly Acosta and other musicians in Hollywood after union officials indicated they would be arrested for showing up for rehearsal.

Writing off the strike?

Justin Hakes — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:02:00 -0500

ABC has apparently issued a memo advising writers wishing to continue working during the ongoing strike of their right to do so after resigning from formal union membership. States the memo:

"The decision whether to join or not join the strike is an individual decision for each person to make."

Unfortunately, many employees across America do not know about these rights or are stonewalled in excercising them by union officials. Anyone that does not want to walk off the job during a union-ordered strike can learn more about their right to continue working here.