Union or Non-Union, That is the Question

Should I be Union or Non-Union? This is a question that we all have asked ourselves at one point or another and if you haven't yet, one day you will. To some, there are many reasons for the concern and just as many reasons why it is a difficult decision. To others, it is not a concern at all because it is a cut and dry decision with no room for question. As you read this article, keep in mind that rules and regulations may vary from one union to the next.

Some of the reasons people join unions are:

• Being able to work on union jobs
• Having some protection where hours, pay and meals are concerned
• Being paid in a timely fashion
• The feeling that union actors are more professional

Some believe it’s best to join the union as soon as you are eligible and have the funds. You don’t want to get caught in a situation where you are required to join to be able to accept a job and you don’t have the initiation fee. For example, a movie comes to town and it is a union job. If it’s been at least 30 days since you’ve done a principle role or 3 extra roles on a union job, you will be considered a "must join" and would not be allowed to accept a union job until you joined the union. If you don’t have the money for the initiation fee, you could get caught between a rock and a hard place. If you are already a union member, this wont be a concern to you.

On a union job, there is a set amount of time (8 hours) that you can work before you will be paid for overtime. There is generally a standard of pay for that type of job and you must receive meals at a certain time or you are paid for the penalty. There are also time restraints set for you to be paid. You are usually paid within 30 days and sometimes earlier. It's rare, but it sometimes takes longer. Some feel that they aren't truly considered professional until they have earned the right to be a card carrying union member.

Now let's take a look at some of the reasons people don't join unions:

• The feeling that there is more non union work
• The initiation fee required to become a union member and annual dues
• The restriction of only being allowed to work on union jobs
• The feeling that the union isn't needed to be treated fairly

Because of budget, non-union jobs don't always offer a minimum salary. While there are cases where a non-union job will actually pay more than union scale, there are probably more cases where they pay less. However, some feel that they can make just as much or more money doing non-union jobs.

The initiation fee to join some unions can be pretty high for some people. This industry does not afford most the opportunity to have extra money lying around that they can use to join a union. This difficulty in raising the necessary funds sometimes discourages people from joining.

There are those who are afraid that they will not be able to make a living strictly through union jobs. They feel that non-union jobs are their bread and butter and are afraid to give up those jobs.

While there are non-union jobs where you have to wait long periods of time before you eat and put in very long days with no additional compensation, there are also plenty of non-union jobs where you are treated as well as on a union job and in some cases better. The problem with some non-union jobs is if you are treated unfairly, you don't really have any recourse.

This whole union vs. non-union thing really depends on the individual. You have to decide which way works for you. Don't make any rash decisions about either. This is a very condensed version of some pros and cons for each and should not be used to make a decision one way or the other. As with any major decision, you should research each position. I suggest that you talk with others in the business and get a couple of points of view. Gather enough information so that you feel you are making an informed decision and good luck whichever way you decide to go

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