Oprah is anti-union? Will Obama speak out on her Wal-Mart-style policies?

[Progress And Change]

Or will he remain silent like he was with McCulkrin?

Mr. Obama having Oprah in will put him right up there with the worst of them. Ms. Winfrey could care less if they appear in a union house or not. Oprah runs a non union house of her own.

“‘Oprah isn’t shutting down,’ commented (Chicago Film Office director Rich) Moskal. Neither are the Jerry Springer, Judge Mathis and the new Steve Wilcos show.”

The reason these shows are not shutting down is either because they employ non-union writers, or have no need for writers. Is this fact something the Chicago film community should be celebrating? While there certainly is a place for non-union production in town, without the skill level fostered by union crews Hollywood would not be taking even a casual interest in the other things the city has to offer (such as interesting locations and cooperative film offices). The result would be that Chicago’s image as a film town would evaporate, and with it the infrasctructure and economic support that allows non-union projects to thrive.

In the case of Oprah, she belongs to three different craft unions herself (as a performer), yet refuses to allow union representation of any sort inside the doors of her studio, instead paying substandard wages and benefits to non-union crews. It is a travesty that Oprah feels no responsibility to those who helped her create her billions in profit, but that’s the way things are and it’s part of the reason union representation is so vital in this industry.

Oh, but the Obama campaign wants everyone to know that the New Hampshire AFL-CIO has been working with Obama's team on the IATSE freeze out, the union trying to organize in N.H., for the Oprah event. It's all so cozy that the union has evidently assured Ms. Winfrey and the Obama campaign that there will not be a picket. So the Oprah-Obama event will go on without a blip, no union, no pickets, so no one will be crossing the picket line. It's all very chummy because we can't have anyone getting upset. The AFL-CIO has Barack's back. You know, just like Planned Parenthood and NOW with Mr. Obama's "present" vote on those abortion votes.

http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=26670

[Progress And Change]

1. will the oprah hypers defend her anti-union policies?

[TeamJordan23]

13. wow, you had to be the 1st to reply to your own post..b/c no one freakin CARES about this type

of smear politics that you are engaged in.

[Lucinda]

23. Actually if it is correct, it is very likely to hit the airwaves.

For better or worse, her actions will be scrutinized. And there are those who love to hate her.

[Sandaasu]

2. "instead paying substandard wages and benefits to non-union crews"

Is there any data on this? I often see it assumed that union laborers get compensated more, but many times, it isn't the case.

[Nailzberg]

3. There is no data on that

When you trace the quote back to it's origin, it's a reader response to an article on ReelChicago, a small TV/Film industry newsletter for Chicago. (Coincidentally, I subscribe to it) It's not even part of the actual article. But that doesn't stop some people from reporting it as fact.

And as far as substandard wages go, one of my friends worked a three month gig for Harpo earlier this year and was paid above her regular rate.

[Progress And Change]

4. I'll trust Taylor Marsh on this...

especially since Oprah's show is one of the few that has not been affected by the union strike...

[Nailzberg]

5. Unscripted show unaffected by a writers strike? Stop the presses!

And Taylor Marsh directly quoted a reader response on a website article, not a journalist source.

[Sandaasu]

7. Also true, shows like this generally won't be affected by a writing strike (nt)

[Progress And Change]

8. Marsh said "This has been under wraps for a long time."

Clearly she is not relying solely on that reader's response and apparently knows something the MSM does not tell us about Oprah. Marsh:

"This has been under wraps for a long time. Nobody has ever questioned the queen of talk, because she's always flown underneath the radar. Not anymore. This from a woman who makes billions while freezing out unions on her show. As I've said before, scrutiny sucks."

From the same link. http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=26670

[Nailzberg]

17. Then Marsh should cite another source

And maybe an authortative source while she's at it.

Taylor Marsh's only listed source on this doesn't even have a mention or credit to his name anywhere on the web to suggest he was an industry professional. Not a listing in the IL Film Office Production Guide, no listing on IMDB, no mention on any of the professional sites I use for networking, no listing in the IATSE roster.

The tech crew I know that have worked for Harpo made better than standard rates.

[Sandaasu]

6. It's not about if they're in a union or not, it's a matter of if they need one or not.

Many times, employers treat their employees just fine without a union intervening. In these cases, a union can actually be undesirable, because of the costs involved.

[ellacott]

10. Taylore Marsh isn't exactly an objective source n/t

[Progress And Change]

12. she is a democrat and a progressive, unlike the hyped and beloved ObamaNation icon oprah

[ellacott]

20. Oh stop with that

James Carville is also a democrat but people recognize his bias. According to some posters here it's the progressives who aren't supporting Hillary. Only true Democrats are supporting her.

As far as Oprah, that's no an informed position. Just because you think that way doesn't make it so.

[sniffa]

9. Oprah 2008!

[tammywammy]

11. I like the new avatar sniffa

:)

I heard Oprah kills puppies for fun too.

[sniffa]

15. and a dead puppy for you. and a dead puppy for you. and a dead puppy for you.

thank you much. :hi:

i'm hoping the Oprah Avatar Craze catches on.

[tammywammy]

16. If this goes on too much longer

I may have to join you. :)

[frogmarch]

14. I'm an Edwards supporter, but

c'mon.

Snip from the AFL-CIO Now Blog:

Maybe some XM Radio execs need to listen to the program to learn how to deal with unions. Last week, “Oprah & Friends” became the first and only XM Radio program to have a union contract when the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) signed a deal with the program’s producers that covers the show’s nine hosts and one announcer. No other XM program has a union contract for its on-air talent.

[ellacott]

22. Good find

People are grasping at anything to disparage Oprah.

[madrchsod]

18. if her staff wanted to join a union there is nothing she could do

unless she fires them. chicago is a union town for god`s sake. i would guess she treats them well enough for them not to bother with a union.

taylor marsh writes for the obama hit site-"hillary is 44" so anything she writes i take with a large can of salt.

[ellacott]

21. Many people think that she runs that site n/t

[Infinite Hope]

19. Anti-Union??? She must be the anti-Christ!!! [/sarcasm] n/t

[donheld]

24. Unrecommend and Kick because

If Oprah's employees are asking for a union then they should get one, but if they are happy I'm happy. Some of this Oprah, Obama bashing is just sickening.


Edited to add: If you have some solid proof Oprah mistreats her staff bring it out and show us. Otherwise get off it.