Just a reminder...

Elections are coming up.
Remember, if you are not happy with the way your elected officials are representing you, it is your duty to nominate people who will. Some of our current office holders need to be 'decommissioned' because of their 'watered' down concern for the membership.
People get the leadership they deserve... If we need people who are there just to collect a check, what does it say about us?

What is this blog for?

The identity of the creator of this blog is really unimportant. What is important, is that if this blog starts getting enough notice that I will open up the blog for outside posting. You can use your name or you can be anonymous whatever you wish... But out and out attacks with no basis in reality will be edited out. If you want rumor and character assassination, go to the loading dock...

Barry Suttin

Condolences to the family of Barry Suttin, longtime member of the Houston Ballet organization.

Upcoming work

Sunday Load Outs:
Mamma Mia at the Hobby
Houston Symphony at Jones Hall

Monday Load Out:
Houston Ballet at the Wortham

Monday Load In:
Dreamgirls at the Hobby
Houston Grand Opera at the Wortham

Wednesday Load In:
Houston Ballet at the Woodlands Pavillion
SPA at Jones (pre hang?)

Calling All Hands!

This forum won't be around very long if the only opinion is the author's. To make this work, we need people to contribute comments. Once we get some serious commitments, we will open up the blog to other posters.
The IATSE 51 website is nothing but an information page. This could be the voice of the rank and file...

Galveston Disaster revisited

When will the nonsense ever stop with the Galveston local? It is like a feudal kingdom down there... We were suppose to have all this crap finalized when the merger was signed but we still have to listen to the 'need' for two separate rosters, hours to maintain seniority and how things need to be handled 'locally'. This is Galveston, not Costa Rica!!! We can be there in less than an hour and they same for the guys coming here. Maybe if we had one business agent handling the situation, it would be resolved.
Oh yeah, that's right, we do have just ONE business agent. Get to work!

Overheard downtown...

Word out from the IA members from the New York area, is that they are not interested in hearing what the Mayor thinks or even the International when it comes to the possible strike against the League.
Word has it that the Local tried to get these negotiations started before the start of the current season, but the League wasn't interested because they wanted to be able to put the pressure on with an union busting attorney and public outcry.
Many feel the IA has given up too much as new shows fresh from successful Broadway runs are going out on their first National tour as 'light pink' shows.
Even after agreeing to lowering the minimums during load ins, the League is still pushing for relaxation of numbers, conditions and wages.
While at the same time, raising to new levels 'premium' tickets and refusing to divulge gross revenues.
Just remember what affects One, affects All.
Choose your next leaders wisely because the days of accommodation are not going to be enough for some producers.

Point to the Positive

Let's hear of some positive actions by members to keep our jurisdiction covered and our members secure. If someone has stepped up and assumed responsibility or taken steps to maintain our solidarity, comment on it so that the knuckleheads will know someone is watching... If you feel someone is subverting our goals, let's hear that too... It is your forum. Use it or lose it.

So I was wrong with the gmail account stuff!

Ok OK OK!!! So I don't have all the rules but we are trying to open up a dialogue with the rank and file! Let's get past the next few stutter steps and get to running amok!

Please comment - but first...

Any and all comments are welcome but you must have a gmail address to do so. A myspace page will be forthcoming for rampant rumor mongering and general ranting.

Time to go...

Today's topic is: Which member of the Executive Board has been the most productive and which has been the most embarassing?
My personal favorite has been watching our President blow his own horn at every monthly meeting. If there was anyway this man could use 'I' in every sentence any more, it would be hard to imagine.
This is the same 'staunch' union brother that when he lost re-election as business agent, years ago, tried to grab a bunch of members and start his own labor force. Now he stands in front of the membership and brags about how he is 'highly regarded' by producers and national labor figures alike.
Isn't this the same 'highly regarded' official that the International would keep on 'hold' and take bets to see how long he would stay on the phone while they made jokes about him?

Houston Stagehands Forum

This is the beginning of a forum to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of our elected officials.
There are always people that put the needs of the individual ahead of the needs of the members.
Some are so in bed with management, that they forget that they were elected and not annointed.
This is a forum to point out the success or failure of our representatives to act in our behalf.