Etihad, the Los Angeles Animation Guild hosts this past weekend helped artists overworked and underpaid Rick Murti Adult Swim for the ratification of the new collective agreement . This is a fascinating story, rarely decide a team of TV series such as Rick and Morty, meet to tackle in the middle of production on the poor working conditions. Sticking together, and it has achieved the desired results.
The person who does not appreciate the efforts of the organization, but was Rick Murti and co-creator Justin Roiland. Following the publication of the story on Saturday, went to Rick Roiland Murti subreddit Animation Guild and called "unprofessional", "unnecessary", "desperate" and "inappropriate." Then select his feelings, he wrote, "the curse of the Union." Messages Roiland with the rest of the wire used to removed a day .
In Roiland Reddit diatribe, he said, and show runner, I was surprised that he which artists represented in the program was taken Animation Guild:
The problem here is that the Union went to the old studio (Star Burns) and the new studio (Rick Murti LLC) has no idea. As we discovered, this was from a strong Union arming the crew. We had very little time to set up an agreement with the Union. Was very tedious and unnecessary at all. To the deal at the weekend together is just crazy. We will have just landed a good deal, regardless of what time of the heavy identifying of the Union. Leaving behind a very bad taste in my mouth.
Animation Guild today responded with a long message on his blog explains that the reason the case was to be be set in a rush for Star Burns did not help me and told them that a fictitious company was founded, about the second season of the series to produce. Wrote the company representative Steve Hulett union, the Star Burns calls to him not back, and it was only after he petitions Artists Association Council with the National Labor Relations who told them that she was more transmission Star Burns n 'production. Was established, a second company called Rick and Morty LLC for the express purpose of the second season is currently in production.
Search reveals that Rick Murti LLC, which was founded in April of this year, began by Rick Murti Co-creator Dan Harmon, who also happens to be a partner in Star Burns Industries . So yes, while the demand of the union Roiland workshop listed incorrectly in the petition to the unions is true, it is dishonest to say that "the time we found out about it ... We had very little time to reach an agreement with the Preparing the Union. " Old and new Studio Studio has one of the same principles, not to mention it works in the same building. Roiland says that Dan Harmon withhold the same information?
Demand Roiland she had no time to negotiate on other grounds as well as maintain. For example, he called the studio to give artists them a classic meet unions scary "debate . said artists, offered, among other things, that union animation a plan for the poor state of health. course offered their own business of any health plan that also one of the reasons was that artists wanted to organize. regardless of what she said for artists, towards a meeting of the trade unions against Rick Murti pattern LLC hosts that they very well the organizational efforts of the artist, it is not necessary wait until the last minute to find an agreement.
In another comment away now, and Roiland continue to point the finger at the Union Animation, claiming they were artists want to hit him:
I had no idea anyone unhappy. Said nothing to me. One minute it's just as before, the next minute there is a foot in front of the door. Also. Cool. This union officials really know how people work and get edgy. Also not completely useless on a show like ours. I love you and I care about my team. If you know that they are not satisfied that we have done something.
But the artists who work in the show, are those who have asked the Union for help. Representative Union Howlett wrote: "The team is not satisfied with their treatment (they were in week 60 hours, which was much lower than the minimum mark to 40 hours weekly wage) contacted us early and it was the summer we have several meetings before voting on all measures for the employment. "
Hand forced Animation Guild showed after Star Burns / Rick Murti LLC Council on the National Labor Relations that they can not make the effort, unions, because they targeted the wrong studio. Hulett continues:
[W] e have again set to square one with cards for delegates and a new application, and to know that we have not too much time to do it, or go to the team and explain the situation and see what you want to do.
We had a meeting with most of the long creative staff "Rick and Morty" on the evening of Thursday, September 4th the dealer and ask them what they want to do. Make a blow was to capitalize on the contract of the company one of the discussion topics. After much back and forth, almost all agreed in the meeting that work on the Monday following the leave (September 8). I had never involved the arm of the Association of entertainment.
We were told that the word reached the Vote Rick Murti LLC and after a short time, that's probably true, because then the move with alacrity to sit down and negotiate with the union. Called their lawyers on Friday afternoon and decided to start negotiations a deal "in good faith". She also asked not agree, the team draw on Monday.
What we do not. (We have not set a deadline for an agreement, but we have never agreed to waive an alleged strike.)
We then negotiate with the company over the weekend. Monday morning, and the representatives of the company asked not to return us to shoot the team. He said we do not do it again, he says: When we reached the point in time we have a proposal to the staff and see if they do not want to take the stones or. Fortunately, the Community and the Union is an agreement in principle to 11:00 clock [Controller] Steve Kaplan and I went to the "Rick and Morty" crew about 11.20 clock. They were waiting on the sidewalk for us, and we went through a lot of points. If you are ready to ratify the voice of the employee contract. Does was a strike.
Ultimately, it is a triumph of animation artists who work in the trenches. And a few dozen artists working on Rick Murti and do not receive special treatment. You simply get the same wages and benefits of thousands of other artists working in the animation industry enjoyed in Los Angeles. Roiland even admits that he is fine with his crew enough is compensated. "I am delighted that the team has its advantages and all the other benefits that come with the unions, I just do not like how it all went down"
Animation Guild performed exactly as it was intended, leading to better working conditions for the artists is to reach all the power they have in this case. In this case, the influence they have is a group of artists who rebelled because of poor working conditions. Turning anger Union Roiland. Instead of blaming the Animation Guild, to improve the lives of artists, the union needs to make thank Roiland to do what any responsible employer would have done in the first place.