Teamsters Call for Governor's Action Against Canadian Subsidies

Teamsters Call for Governor's Action Against Canadian Subsidies

Motion Picture Workers to

Contact Schwarzenegger’s Office on Job Creation

November 14, 2003

(Los Angeles, CA) – More than 500 members who belong to Teamsters Local 399 rallied with state leaders, actors and union members in Los Angeles today to protest motion picture industry plans to move more work to Canada through ‘runaway production.’ The workers also announced plans to contact newly elected California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for his help in saving jobs.

“Working people in California need all their elected representatives involved,” said Leo Reed, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 399 in Hollywood, California. “If our leaders are serious about repairing our economy then they can begin right here in Los Angeles by helping keep more work here.”

The rally was highlighted by a parade of more than 140 trucks and buses used and owned by Local 399 members on motion picture sets throughout California. California Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson (47 AD) spoke at the rally, followed by Senators Alarcon (23 SD) and Kuehl (23 SD) and Assemblyman Paul Koretz (42 AD). The four leaders voiced their support for keeping good-paying jobs in California and planned to work with the Governor to save jobs.

The Department of Commerce estimates that runaway production eliminated more than 15,000 motion pictures jobs and cost the American economy more than $27,000,000.00 per day in 2001 alone.

“California’s motion picture workers cannot compete against an entire country which intent on cutting it’s labor and tax costs to near zero,” Reed said. “We firmly believe that these subsidies are unfair and illegal and will work with our trade lawyers in Washington and hopefully our governor to correct this problem.”

Teamsters Local 399 represents more than 4,000 motion picture personnel throughout Southern California.