Representatives of Bay Area Locals One of the committees at Convention reviews resolutions that locals present to the body for endorsement. The most simple of resolutions would be something like a Presidential candidate endorsement.

There were four major themes to the resolutions presented. As technology advances, technical training and safety become increasingly important and has become a progressively stronger organizing tool. If IA technicians have certifications, the IA is in a better position to get employers to sign contracts.

There were several resolutions regarding piracy legislation and enforcement. Every time someone downloads a movie or buys a bootleg DVD on the street, studios lose money that could go into the budget of the next movie, and the IATSE benefit funds lose money that would be contributed from residuals.

The other two themes of resolutions hit closer to home – health care and organizing. The International is working hard for the passage of meaningful health care reform and has passed resolutions endorsing singlepayer health care and House bill 676. Every time we go into negotiations, we are asking for increases in health contributions, but most plan participants are still getting bills because their employer contributions aren’t sufficient to pay the premiums. As long as health care is a for-profit industry, money will take precedence over actual care. But as you’ve no doubt seen in the news, fear and money threaten to derail process. Union members need to contact their Representatives and Senators and encourage their support for real health care reform.

“By Organization and Mutual Endeavor” was the theme of the convention and that theme speaks to the resolutions passed regarding the Employee Free Choice Act. EFCA would make it easier for workers to choose a union by simply signing authorization cards. EFCA also increases prosecution and penalties for employers who threaten or fire employees to avoid union bargaining. The bill also provides for assistance on first contract negotiations so that employers can’t drag negotiations out for years in order to stall the process. It’s important for union members to voice their support for EFCA.

Call your Representatives and Senators. Urge your friends to call. Health Care and the ability of workers to choose unions need real reform for everyone’s benefit.