Posted by William Fowler on April 30, 1998 at 09:16:43:
In Reply to: Financial Core - The Real Poop posted by Jack Shaw on January 19, 1998 at 15:38:42:
It only figures that the previous remarks were submitted anonimously. In point of fact, financial core was established following a lawsuit, AFTRA VS. Buckley in 1974-5, when William F. Buckley was doing his PBS show, Firing Line, non-union. Financial core allows former full dues paying members to work on both sides of the fence. The trade off is that financial core members can't run for union office, vote, attend union meetings or get union publications. However, "core" members can
retain medical, dental and retirement benefits for past and future work performed under union contracts contracts. There are a lot of poorly negotiated contracts that do not allow producers to work freely. Many contract stipulations are unfair to producers. Good producers have no problem paying a fair wage for work or providing decent working conditions, but many union provisions tie their hands creatively as well as with paperwork, parasitic middlemen and unnecessary expense. Because of technology we are able to provide services rapidly around the country, from state to state, as well as around the globe. Much of the union contract language is antiquated and does not take into account right to work states or effectively address some of the demands of business in the new technologies. There is also rampant age discrimination in radio and TV advertising which has tossed veteran performers out on their ear. The unions acknowledge this problem, but have done little more than pay lip service towards correcting it. The unions have no one to blame but themselves for the interest in Financial Core. I have been a union member for over thirty years as well as National Board Director of Screen Actors Guild and I am now Financial Core. If you're not a celebrity or 18-30 years old and want to work in voiceover, Financial Core may afford you the opportunity to do so. There are many SAG/AFTRA members who do non-union work and yet they will criticize Financial Core members. They are hypocrates. The best thing to do is not to join a union until you have accrued enough non-union work to determine whether or not you may be competitive in the union work arena. However, one may have unique and singular reasons for becoming Financial Core, For me, it was a necessary and beneficial move. I would not have done it if the performer unions were more caring and effective in my right to work, addressing the practice of discrimination and enacting contract language that was more producer friendly.