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Union-think trumps common sense in Montreal
- Article from:
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Winnipeg Free Press
- Article date:
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July 24, 2008
- Author:
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Copyright informationCopyright F.P. Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership Jul 24, 2008. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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By George Jonas
Many years ago I worked as a drama producer for the CBC. We used a lot of equipment -- cameras, lights, props, and so on -- that required hands-on attention, provided the hands belonged to the appropriate bargaining unit.
If a performer needed to wipe his nose, I couldn't just hand him a Kleenex. Wrong union. We had to call for makeup, then wait until he or she made it from the other end of the set.
Failure to do so could result in a grievance, though the usual penalty for minor infractions was just a case of beer, purchased by the producer from his own pocket.
We tended not to charge the corporation for it, even though not having to wait for the proper union person to ...