Dear BOXOFFICE:

(AND THEY ARE NOT IN A UNION...........)

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Peter, I know Joe pretty well and he is not bashing unions. However there is a general attitude in one direction from people (usually managers) that say unions are not needed and they can do things on their own. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The attitude coming from the other direction is from union workers, who feel that non-union operators simply have no training and that they can never equal the level of presentation that a union booth can. Joe is just pointing out that (I will use different words) for every properly trained professional union operator, there is a properly trained professional non-union operator. Or in other words, you don't HAVE to be in a union to put on a flawless show.

So what's the answer? I'm not sure I can really say, or how such a thing would be determined. However I have personally worked all sides (union booths as a union operator, non-union booths as a non-union operator and management) and generally around town the union booths were the best, some of them being nothing short of perfect (anyone been to the Northpark 1&2?). This was from the Dallas Local 249 which I can vouch for was a first rate local who were very presentation minded. I say "was" because it is no more. Nowadays all the corporate people care about is the bottom line and how can they save another buck. That being said though, I have seen and worked in non-union booths that did put on a better show than other union booths. In the end the final variable related to a quality presentation is the personnel themselves. The pay rate and benefits are a different issue (feel free to open up a different thread...it would be an interesting discussion!!!)

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I have found that nothing can be management's desire to have a first rate show. If quality is instilled in employees, union or not, the results will be better than a repressive atmosphere

However...my general test for judging things like this (union vs non-union) is kinda like looking at fungable goods....discard the best in both categories (cuz both have their exceptionally talented) and discard the worst (every group has it's moron population) and look at the murky middle...on the whole, the union group will be a better choice.

However, the situation Brad describes about a local that was once very good falling victim to corporate mentality that just doesn't value projection/presentation is a common one that has pretty much devistated most of the once good locals.

I claim it still comes back to management (and I mean beyond the individual location...but at corporate)...if they want good people and long-term quality they will get it.

If it is left up to just the caring individuals at the theatre level...then you will have a few good places and the rest crap.

Steve

:-)

quote:

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"(union workers are) paid a salary which would permit you to ,buy a home, send your children to school and be a functioning member of the community."

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Dennis, since "well paid" is relative, perhaps this is a better way to answer the question without giving out a number. Does the above quote fit what the lowest paid projectionist makes in your theater? I'm not picking on you specifically, but *most* of the time I hear that a company pays their projectionists properly, it is not enough to provide the benefits from the quote above. The typical to above average non-union projectionist's salary will be struggling damned hard to even be able to put food on the table if they have even just one kid. I applaud you and your company if you are able to honestly answer that question "yes they are paid enough for that kind of life."

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The truth of the matter is - here is Las Vegas, Nevada - we pay our employees (floor staff and projection) more than any other theatre in town. We have benefits to offer to our full-time employees also.

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