TEAMSTERS LOCAL 399: Important Reminders, Updates and Last Week In Review
Happy Labor Day Weekend! Just like many of our holidays this year, Labor Day 2020 looks very different for a lot of us. As we slowly see our Industry beginning to reopen, and the COVID-19 cases decreasing in Los Angeles County, we must stay safe this weekend and continue to wear a mask and stay safely distanced from those we come into contact with. Regardless of how we are able to celebrate, we can still remember, reflect and celebrate the hard-fought victories the labor movement has given us and what we continue to demand for ourselves when we all collectively fight for working families across our Nation.
We are stronger together. We must remember the power working people have in this Country when we stand and fight together as one. November is right around the corner is it incumbent upon us to make sure working families win at the polls this election cycle.
Check out this great video from the California Federation of Labor highlighting Labor’s fight in 2020 and the critical role Unions play in the fight to protect the working class. #WhyWeFight
In case you missed anything, please find a recap of this week’s efforts, as well as a reminder of important ongoing resources and information.
LABOR OF LOVE FOOD DISTRIBUTION:
DATE: Monday, September 7th
TIME: 9AM – 12PM
ADDRESS: Banning Park
401 E. M Street
Wilmington, CA 90744
* Drive-Thru only for health and safety precautions.
In celebration of Labor Day, Labor Community Services and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, in collaboration with the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Labor Coalition and South County Labor will be giving back to the community by hosting a food distribution for OVER 4000 people with LA Regional Food Bank for those who have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
While the annual Labor Day Parade, a 40-year tradition, has been canceled due to COVID-19, it lives on in spirit with a day of us giving to fellow workers and working families in the community.
Food is FREE to Union Members, the community at-large, your family members and friends. If you are in need of a safe way to pick up groceries this week, please stop by!
LABOR UNION APPROVAL RATING:
Labor Unions are climbing in approval rating across the Nation! Happy Labor Day Weekend to the hardworking families that keep our Industries and our Nation moving.
- 65% of Americans approve of Labor Unions
- Latest reading is highest since 2003
- Democrats’ approval is 83%, Republicans’ 45%; independents’ is 64%
From Gallup: “As Labor Day approaches and economic conditions in the U.S. remain tenuous, Americans’ 65% approval of labor unions is once again the highest it has been since 2003…Americans’ approval of labor unions has been consistently high for several years and has more than recovered from low points around the Great Recession. Even as the U.S. grapples with the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic crisis, which includes record-high unemployment, support for unions remains strong.“
Click here to read the full article.
TEAMSTER MADE, TEAMSTER DELIVERED, TEAMSTER ENJOYED:
As we embark on Labor Day weekend, a reminder to be safe, stay masked, keep your distance and support your Union Brothers and Sisters! Celebrate your Union pride this Labor Day weekend with Teamster-made and delivered products.
Click here to see a full list of products
SAVE THE DATE – DIGITAL TOWNHALL:
We are asking Members to save the date for Tuesday, September 15th at 7PM for another Local 399 Digital Town Hall. We will be sharing more information and the registration for the event soon. Stay tuned.
HOLLYWOOD, THE SEQUEL – DAVID RUBIN CASTING DIRECTOR:
Local 399 Casting Director and President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, David Rubin, was interviewed on the Sequel talking about the role of casting in increasing diversity and inclusion throughout the Industry by way of how and who tells Hollywood stories.
“I think Casting Directors have been part of the leading charge for greater diversity on screen and greater gender parity. One thing that any good Casting Director does when beginning to work on a script is to go through that screen play and essentially ignore the very specific descriptions, physically in particular, of each character. To take nothing away from the great work of a screen writer, those descriptions are not written for a Casting Director, nor for a Director or a Producer. When it comes to deciding which actor should play a role, the focus should not be on those descriptors, it should be on how that character impacts the narrative. What job do they do on the telling of the story? If you focus only on that, it opens up a myriad of possibilities in terms of age, gender and race.”
MPI – SUMMER 2020 UPDATE:
The MPI Board of Directors has recently taken further steps to help participants and their dependents deal with the current COVID-19 situation. As this situation is rapidly evolving, the MPI Board of Directors is meeting monthly to review the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to cover as many participants as possible.
LA TIMES ARTICLE:
This past week, the LA Times shared a story about the recent COVID-19 death of an Assistant Director, John Nolan, who is believed to have contracted the virus from a commercial shoot in Texas. His tragic death has served as a reminder of the importance of safety as we see Members returning to work, especially in commercials, where testing has not been made a standard protocol on all commercial productions. We will continue to advocate for testing on behalf of our Members, especially for those working in commercials.
We cannot stress enough that your safety and the safety of your family is of utmost concern. If you are working and feel unsafe on set, please make your Business Agent the first call. We have also released a new Safety Hotline for Members to report anonymously any issues you may encounter: 818-436-0239
NEW SHOP STEWARD: RYEN RODRIGUEZ:
We are excited to announce our new Shop Steward on the Disney Lot – proud Local 399 Member Ryen Rodriguez. Ryen is a Group 1 Dispatcher that has been working at Disney for the past 6 years. We are grateful for his willingness to serve the Membership in this capacity and believe he will be an incredible asset and resource to our Members.
LOCAL 399 MASKS – ONLINE ORDER:
Many Members have reached out expressing interest in purchasing more Local 399 Masks. In an attempt to support those unable to come down to the office, as well as control the initial amount of Members stopping by, we are providing a way to submit an order for Masks online. Please complete the form below to express interest in how many masks you would like to purchase. Office Manager Greg Karson will be in touch to confirm and complete your order. Please allow 2-3 business days to receive a follow-up call regarding your order.
LOCAL 399 EMERGENCY RECOVERY FUND:
MPTF has added our Local 399 Emergency Recovery Fund to their website. This fund was approved by the Membership to support Local 399 Members that have found themselves in extreme financial hardship due to the COVID-19 situation. If you are interested in applying, please contact their intake line at: 323-634-3888.
Click here to read ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ Section
A couple notes to mention:
• Due to the high volume of calls, the intake line provides a window of 5-7 days to return your call to begin your case.
• The Motion Picture and Television Fund is a non-profit organization that is working around the clock to support Entertainment Industry Workers in need. We know this is an extremely difficult and challenging time, however, we ask that you treat MPTF case workers with the utmost respect and gratitude for their time and service they give to support those Members devastated by this pandemic.
• To Apply, call the MPTF INTAKE LINE: 323-634-3888
If there are any questions we can answer surrounding the fund,
please do not hesitate to reach out.
OPTUM & KAISER CRISIS HOTLINES:
Your well-being matters MOST. As this difficult situation continues and no matter how isolated you may feel, you do not need to face these challenges alone. There is hope. Powerful health resources and personalized support services are available right now. Live and Work Well is here to help you and those you care about find the balance, support and care you need to live the healthiest life possible.
OPTUM CRISIS HOTLINE: 1-800-273-8255
KAISER EMOTIONAL SUPPORT HOTLINE: (800) 900-3277
If an emergency, or you think you may harm yourself, please call 911.
CONNECT WITH TEAMSTERS LOCAL 399:
Get connected with Teamsters Local 399 on our official social media pages.
You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. An engaged and educated Membership is a strong Membership. Don’t just belong to your Union, be an Active Member.
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Thank you for your support over the past several months. Please let us know if there is anything more we can be doing to support you and your family at this time.
