Casting Director Union Negotiation days

I'm on the Casting Directors Union steering committee.  We are Teamsters Local 399 - which also represents drivers, location directors and animal wranglers.  Our contract is expiring at the end of the month, so today we are at the offices of the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) to hammer out a new deal.  The AMPTP represents all the major studios and networks - so we spend a lot of the day sitting across tables from the representatives from Labor Affairs departments of the studios and networks.

While I can't comment on the proceedings of the day, it's a very interesting process.  The Casting Directors were without union representation until only 2 1/2 years ago, when the Teamsters organized us and we became Teamsters.  Before that time, we had no health benefits or pension benefits!  We love the Teamsters as they helped us achieve what we could not do individually.  

Shout outs to our union leaders:  Leo T. Reed, Tony Cusimano, Steve Dayan and Tom O'Donnell along with our attorneys for leading the charge.

Actor of the week:  Andy Buckley.  I just saw Andy on a repeat of "The Office" and I am reminded that he is a good looking, funny guy.  Hard to find that combination.  You wouldn't think it would be difficult, but as the great casting dame Barbara Miller used to say "God does not give with both hands"