Regular Freedom@Work readers may remember the plight of Mandy Diasselliss, a Santa Monica-based studio tutor whose career helping child actors stay on top of their studies is threatened by compulsory unionism. The case underscores the reality of the union boss stranglehold in Hollywood.

Union operatives from the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 884 had Diasselliss fired for not joining the union despite the fact she actually tried to become a member (joining is just what you DO in Hollywood), her excellent workplace track record, and the fact that her temporary employment status meant she could not be compelled to join IATSE Local 884 in the first place.

The Foundation’s original unfair labor practice charges challenged this illegality, seeking her immediate reinstatement as well as any back pay owed since her illegal termination.

Foundation attorneys have subsequently amended the unfair labor practice charges, alleging that IATSE operatives also limited access to a union hiring hall to protect existing union members and exclude newer employees (like Diasselliss) from obtaining employment opportunities, even though they would be working under the same union contract. Union members received preferential access to the hiring hall to find work, whereas nonunion employees were denied access to similar opportunities, effectively freezing them out of the local job market.

Unfortunately, this latest development isn’t particularly surprising. As Foundation Vice President Stefan Gleason noted in the original press release, “Union bosses in the entertainment industry have routinely ignored federal labor laws in an effort to maintain monopoly control of who is hired and who is fired."Freedom@Work will continue to post updates on the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to challenge this coercive union scheme.