Through the Finder - Gary Dunham

This is my first ICG magazine editorial in four issues. Being a working officer, I volunteer my time and effort as president of this Union. It is my policy not to sign my name to editorials written by others, simply for the sake of continuity. Editor-in-Chief Michael Frediani, SOC has done a tremendous job putting this fine publication together each month, and his insightful editorials have enhanced his efforts.

I hope that many of you have read the current edition of Camera Angles. The entire issue is dedicated to coverage of this past summer’s 65th I.A.T.S.E. Convention, written by twenty of our delegates in their own words. The membership involvement in Camera Angles represents but one of the numerous changes going on at Local 600 over the last fifteen months.

Another positive change from past practice was the unprecedented addition last month of a third meeting this year of our National Executive Board, resulting in substantially more membership participation in the governance of our Union. At this recent NEB meeting, our representatives—working together—accomplished a great deal on a variety of important matters. A sampling: we established a regular budget for the implementation of diversity issues; we set a new policy of sending annual year-end dues statements to every member (expect yours in early March); we empowered the National Executive Officers to respond quickly to catastrophic events, such as Hurricane Katrina, to aid our members in times of critical need (please see the ICG web site, www.cameraguild.com, regarding Local 600’s emergency assistance to our members affected by Hurricane Katrina); we enacted a protocol for budgeting and funding our regional workshops and training programs, and in conjunction with this ongoing commitment, we will be publishing an annual workshop and training calendar to alert you to the valuable educational programs our Union provides for our members. Creditably, our Health and Safety Committee has Local 600 continually at the forefront of addressing the issue of fatigue as a hazardous working condition.

We accomplished all of the above at the September NEB. Most importantly, however, the bulk of our meeting was devoted to reasoned and productive discussions regarding the upcoming Hollywood Basic Agreement negotiations. Over the last thirteen months, members representing many classifications have held a number of nationally teleconferenced meetings to identify and discuss the issues of greatest concern to our membership. Two days ahead of our most-recent NEB meeting, our Negotiations Committee met for approximately eight hours to put together a comprehensive catalogue of issues that our members want brought to the negotiating table this winter. Those points came before the NEB for discussion and approval, and until negotiations commence, the committee will continue to work on fine-tuning our issues and strategies.

I have never witnessed a more productive Union meeting. Although I may not write editorials often enough, I trust that you prefer action and results from this administration.

Fraternally,

Gary Dunham
National President