UPDATE: Rankled Boston Mayor’s Minions Held Up Non-Union Permits for ‘Top Chef’ Crews

[Omaha Steve]

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http://deadline.com/2014/08/rankled-boston-mayors-minions-held-up-non-union-permits-for-top-chef-crews-823460/

by David Robb, Special To Deadline
August 22, 2014 5:15pm



UPDATED 5:15 PM: Boston Mayor Martin Walsh’s Press Secretary issued a statement to Deadline tonight. “The permits were issued for this show and production of the show went forward — to our understanding — on schedule,” Kate Norton said. “In fact, the Mayor, along with a number of other city officials, directly participated in the filming of this show. I’m looking forward to seeing the episode.”

RelatedBoston Teamsters' 'Top Chef' Threats Become Statewide Campaign Issue

Shot at a local museum, the episode showed the mayor chowing down and welcoming Top Chef to the city. A few days later, reps from Teamsters Local 25 called the Mayor’s Office of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment to find out where the show had received permits to shoot around the city so they could set up picket lines. Panicky phone calls ensued, and “that’s when the mayor realized it was a non-union production,” the source said, “and he was concerned that by appearing on the show, it made him look like he doesn’t support the local unions. So they held the show’s permits for a couple of days and it delayed their schedule.”

Local 25 President Sean O’Brien rejected Deadline’s account of the fracas, first reported on Wednesday, despite police and other corroboration of the published account.

Sean O'Brien“The Top Chef situation as it is written is fiction at best,” he said in a statement released by the union. “We have the right to lawfully demonstrate and protest the filming of non-union non-Massachusetts workers. We have fought long and hard to protect our members, their livelihoods and will continue to do so. If the allegations were true, Milton Police would have taken appropriate action.”

FULL story at link.

[OutNow]

1. Good for the Teamsters

Here in Oregon we have had a similar experience with non-union TV crews for sports broadcasts. They pay shit rates and no benefits. Thankfully, most of the venues are covered by union contracts, but the low wage companies continue to try to sneak in, broadcast, and leave as fast as possible.