Thread by @elainelow

NEW #PayUpHollywood story: I spoke with over a dozen writers' assistants and script coordinators. Here's what they told me about the union, alleged punitive measures from studios, and 30-cent-an-hour raises. 1/
variety.com/2019/tv/news/p…

“Once we unionized, my medical expenses went down from about $10,000 a year to $300 a year,” said WA Olga Lexell, who has Hashimoto's thyroiditis. “I went to see my doctor, where my co-pay used to be $65 under the studio plan, and it was only $5. And I cried. I was so floored.”2/

Lexell, like many who spoke to @Variety, cite access to health insurance as one of the biggest benefits of unionizing under IATSE Local 871.

“It’s been incredible,” she said. “Honestly, if we hadn’t unionized, I don’t know that I would still be working in this industry.” 3/

@Variety Writers assistants had appealed to the Writers Guild Association to organize under the WGA banner, but were denied. WGA West “supports the movement to improve working conditions for Hollywood assistants,” but asst duties don't fall under its jurisdiction. 4/

Current union scale for writers’ assistants is $14.57 an hour and $16.63 for script coordinators, a rate that will increase by 3% on Feb. 1, 2020. For context, minimum wage in CA is $12/hour. 5/

Securing 60-hour work week guarantees is a big issue for WAs and SCs, not because of a love of long hours but bc without it, many would have trouble earning enough to pay rent. One SC: “The sad thing is that no one should have to work 60 hours or more to make a livable wage." 6/

Several support staffers who spoke with @Variety accuse the studios of punitively cutting their hours in the wake of unionization, effectively offsetting any hourly wage gains.

“This happened overnight, once the contract went through,” said one writers’ assistant. 7/

While nearly all the major studios were criticized, ABC and Sony Pictures TV were repeatedly named as studios that allegedly do not negotiate hourly rates, citing union minimums as all they are allowed to offer (rather than a floor for negotiation). 8/

Sources close to the studios disputed that there was any such policy in place. One assistant showed me paperwork & emails from Sony that reflected a reduced guarantee to 40 hrs post-unionization, down from a prev. formalized 60-hr guarantee. 9/

The studio did note, however, that it would not reduce hourly rates for those already earning above union minimums. Multiple sources said that upon being contacted by Local 871, Sony later reinstated those guarantees. 10/

One script coordinator, having worked for union scale during the first season of an unnamed series, asked for a raise ahead of S2. She got *30 cents* more per hour.

“It’s pretty crazy. I don’t feel great about it. I have six-plus years of experience working in rooms.” 11/

The union isn't a perfect solution. Initiation fees are $1,200-$1,500. Netflix's "Sex/Life" showrunner Stacy Rukeyser @littleruke and 3 EPs pitched in to cover her WA's $1,400 fees, which she calls "another barrier to entry." 12/

“Emerald City” showrunner and “Avatar 2” writer @Josh_Friedman has had to engage with a studios’ business affairs’ units over the issue of support staff rates. 13/

@Josh_Friedman WA Brenden Gallagher is now exploring unionizing showrunners’ assistants.

“...Awareness and raising these conversations is a great starting point, but then the question you have to ask next is what are you going to do with this energy? And that’s where organizing comes in.” 14/

“...The studios absolutely refuse to negotiate with assistants because they know we want and need the jobs,” said one assistant. “They are definitely retaliating for unionizing and taking as much advantage of us as they can.” #PayUpHollywood
variety.com/2019/tv/news/p…

P.S. Oh, and if it wasn't abundantly clear, I continue to be very interested in your collective #PayUpHollywood experiences, @LizAlps and co. My DMs are open. If you have the receipts, I'd like to see them.

@LizAlps (Separately, that also goes for on-set safety issues and other workplace concerns for the industry.)