Why the YES Vote Matters – An IATSE Member Tells Her Story

IATSE voted 99% YES to authorize a strike.

And because union negotiations can be reduced to just that… “negotiations,” it was important to us on the show to put the focus on exactly what we are actually talking about here: Human beings’ well-being on set and in life.

So, on this episode of Brian Breaks Character, my guest is IATSE crew member Heather Fink. She works as a Boom Operator and Sound Utility and she joined me not as a formal representative of IATSE, but as a human being in the industry. In this intimate conversation, Heather openly shares her real-life experience as a “below the line” creative as we stare down this strike.

IATSE is asking for better pay for streaming service work; higher wages for coordinators and assistants on all productions; longer rest periods between shifts and on weekends; and strengthened requirements for meal breaks during marathon shoots.

So to be clear, it’s not about pointing at “one bad person” it’s about revolutionizing an industry that can too often make *the bottom line* more important than human experience.

WHICH IS LITERALLY INSANE SINCE FILM AND TV-MAKING IS STORYTELLING … and storytelling EXISTS to connect us as humans.

In this episode, I put on my novice hat so I could ask Heather ALLLL the questions you might need to know about WHY this is so important and you’ll learn precisely WHY as a fellow creative you’ll want to take a stand with IATSE.

This episode is dedicated to all the members of IATSE. We stand with humanizing this business. We stand with IATSE.

TAKEAWAYS

IATSE crew is the engine that runs everything on a Film/TV set
How the @ia_stories Instagram Account helped Heather to take a pause and realize that after 11 years of working on film crews that it’s not normal nor is it OK the conditions that IATSE crew members have been working under.
IATSE has not had a strike since WWII, so over time members have lost things from their contract every time it’s been negotiated.
The YES vote does not mean there will be a strike, it means that IATSE has authorized a strike and can go back to negotiations with AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) with the hopes that will be enough.

Wanna show your support?

Sign this Petition to Tell AMPTP to Give Film and Television Workers a Fair Deal – https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-amptp-to-make-a-deal-with-behind-the-scenes-workers

Follow IATSE Stories on Instagram to be in the know of what IATSE crew members are asking for and why – https://www.instagram.com/ia_stories/

CONNECT with Heather

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/leatherfink

Website

https://www.heatherfink.com/

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