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An amazing moment I witnessed on the picket line today: I was a Neutral Gate Observer at Universal this afternoon. Neutral Gates are a labor law loophole that allows for there to be one picket-free entrance for employees to use that aren’t employed by a struck company. #WGAStrong
The guild sends observers there to make sure no one is sneaking through these neutral gates that aren’t supposed to. Sometimes struck companies will tell their employees to enter through the neutral gate even though they aren’t allowed.
But because they know observers are there, studio security has been turning away people that didn’t have the proper badge for that gate. It seems to be working as it’s intended, and over the course of the day I witness 4 different cars that were forced to turn around.
About halfway through the day, a car pulled up and a guy in his 20s handed over his badge. Uni security said it was the wrong badge and he couldn’t come in this way. That’s when he started talking to me. I initially thought he would be angry but-
He explained he was a PA working on the lot. He was supposed to bring his bosses their lunches but had informed them he wouldnt cross picket lines. They told him, don’t worry just use the neutral gate. They lied to him and now he couldn’t get back inside to get them their food.
This kid, working as a PA, the shittiest fucking job in Hollywood, decided he is going to put his own livelihood on the line to not cross a picket line. He is going to get in trouble with his bosses and he knows it. But still, he decided he needed to honor our picket.
And then, because he knew he wouldn’t be giving them the food they ordered, he offered to give the lunches to the picket line. I don’t know his name, but I fucking love that PA. And his solidarity with us is something I will remember for the rest of my life. Truly.
If you want to help support crew members like him who might suffer financial hardship because of our labor action, please donate to the Entertainment Community Fund and choose “film/tv” in the drop down menu: secure2.convio.net/afa/site/Donat…
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