#there is power in a union

[pearwaldorf]

I do genuinely believe people are trying to support the WGA and SAG-AFTRA in their strikes. I really do. But I also think it's real fucking frustrating that despite SAG-AFTRA having small and explicit asks for non-members, people keep trying to do things that they have not asked for.

So. I have compiled some links for you so you can READ THEM and understand what is and is not an actual obligation as a fan.

This FAQ for members re: personal appearances and conventions may be helpful in clarifying what is and is not allowed for you as a fan. Please understand that what is allowed is not necessarily the same as what you would do personally. For example, a fan cosplaying as a character from a struck work is allowed. Do not give people shit for this.

If you want to express support as a fan, this is what the unions are asking for, per their websites:

Donate to the Entertainment Community Fund (WGA)

Show your support on social media (WGA, SAG-AFTRA)

Join the picket lines (WGA, SAG-AFTRA*). OBSERVE PICKET GUIDELINES. (WGA, SAG-AFTRA) You are representing these unions and you follow their directions.

Obviously this is subject to change, but the unions will give you plenty of notice when it does. Follow their socials and/or subscribe to their newsletters so you can keep up. Do not rely on word of mouth from Tumblr or other social media unless it has a citation from a reputable source.

We all want these strikes to succeed. You help make that more possible by understanding what is required vs what you think other people should do.

--

*There are a surprising number of locations where rallies are happening. One might be near you!

[intheholler]

[good-night-dodger]

“While streaming services rake in hundreds of millions of dollars, many TV stars can’t even afford heating – or are somehow paid in negative figures. No wonder they’re on strike.”

[starshine-shimmyshufflesmile]

Being upset by the shutdown is 100% okay.  

Who wouldn't be upset by someone fucking them over? The AMPTP studios are the bad guys fucking over the actors and the writers and they are fucking over fans, too. The actors and the writers are the GOOD GUYS. They bust their asses to make the things we love. The Millionaire AMPTP CEOs are literally the bullies stealing lunch money from our GOOD GUYS, our beloved actors and writers. 

The AMPTP millionaire CEOs think they are going to win, relying on their mistaken assessment that fandom will turn against our beloved GOOD GUYS, that fandom is stupid enough to believe AMPTP millionaire studio CEOs lies that the basic human dignity of working for a living wage is not something that our beloved ACTOR AND WRITER GOOD GUYS should even dare to ask for.

Never forget the AMPTP studio bosses are the BAD guys.

Rage over what you're missing out on, absolutely. Yell & scream, Cry & stamp your feet for your favs.

Direct that anger at the AMPTP studio boss villains.

Image via david letterman 2008

[elwenyere]

Lyrics from the final verse of "Solidarity Forever":

In our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold Greater than the might of atoms magnified a thousandfold We can bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old, For the Union makes us strong.

CHORUS Solidarity forever, solidarity forever! Solidarity forever, for the Union makes us strong!

[sixbucks]

Girlcrush.

[bmure]

Doggust day 2: Dalmatian

ended up doing two dalmatians (did the one wearing the lovely unicorn haqihana harness cos while I always feel strange endorsing *products* the fit and softness of it has made such a massive diff to my sweet rescue pup with chronic pain issues)

Then felt compelled to draw Fire Brigade Union pup 🔥

[gentlyepigrams]

Lucy Parsons, one of the original founders of the IWW on this day 117 years ago. “Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.”

[silly-skater-butch]

I can’t wait to work my dream job (ironworker) and I’m so close to realizing that goal. I’ll be an apprentice in a freakin union struttin down I-beams with steel toe docs, all my tools n gear, n wearing a big smile on my face. I have a lot to be excited for.

All this rough factory work will be worth it one day.

[intheholler]

[mywingsareonwheels]

Enola Holmes: hero, detective, engineer, feminist, dork, trade union ally ( <3 ) , setting up her brother on blind dates with hot doctors.

Also now I have a lot of socialist feelings. And I am mildly astonished that a Hollywood film made now in the midst of everything going on in the US and the UK went THERE. Really rather impressed. :D

[starshine-shimmyshufflesmile]

Yes you can help. Donate for emergency financial assistance to entertainment industry workers affected by work stoppage

[bieups]

[1일 1포 - 25/28]

Went to a union meeting today, so here are some words more or less related (in my mind, at least)

노동조합 (노조) - labor union

전국민주노동조합총연맹 (민주노총) - Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) [this one is more left-leaning]

한국노동조합총연맹 (한국노총) - Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) [this one is more right-leaning]

노동자, 근로자 - worker

조합비 - union dues

강령 - a creed, doctrine

(총)파업 - (general) strike

시위 - protest, demonstration

선언하다 - to declare, proclaim

연대하다 - to be in solidarity, unity

인권 - human rights

최저임금 - minimum wage [currently 9,620원 = $7.31]

근로자의 날 (5월 1일) - Labor Day, Workers' Day (May 1st)

민주주의 - democracy

자본주의 - capitalism

사회주의 - socialism

공산주의 - communism

And these are the political parties that are generally supportive of the KCTU: 진보당 (Progressive Party), 노동당 (Labor Party), 정의당 (Justice Party), 녹색당 (Green Party)

[starfieldcanvas]

if A.I. art generators were actually making the art based on criteria programmed into them, say, by training the AI on a bunch of photos and videos of the real world and then training it to use Blender to recreate things, that would be awesome and I'd welcome our new robot art friend.

but what DALL-E is doing is based on scraping people's original art into a dataset without permission from any of the artists at any point. they didn't agree to contribute their work to this tool, but now, because it has eaten their art, it can create passable imitations of their style and use that style for original pieces. are those original pieces infringing on their copyright? no, that wouldn't make sense. but the tool to create the artwork wouldn't exist if the AI programmer hadn't fed it the artists' real work. so if people start using the AI to make commercial art and get money for it, but at no point are the artists from the dataset consulted or compensated, it's clearly moral fuckery - regardless of how copyright (with all its many flaws) has been sidestepped.

[sixbucks]

Billy Bragg: There is Power in a Union

[bostonfly]

In response to "Rich Men North of Richmond", Billy Bragg had his say in a song.