LA County AFL-CIO Council Targets 'Biggest Loser' (strike now in its second week)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/la-county-afl-cio-council-45507

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, will hold an emergency meeting Tuesday to sanction the strike by IATSE and the crew of NBC’s The Biggest Loser.

The strikers are seeking a union contract in order to secure pension and health benefits. The production entities, Reveille Prods., 25/7 Prods. and 3 Ball Prods. have refused to sign a contract with IATSE.

In a statement, Maria Elena Durazo, the leader of the federation, said “Entertainment is one of the preeminent industries in Los Angeles and it generates the kind of middle class jobs we so desperately need.” She added, “The producers of this show want to make their own workers ‘the biggest losers’ and the labor movement in LA is not going to let that happen.”

The federation will hold a news conference Tuesday featuring striking crew members from joined by unions representing teachers, hotel workers, carwash workers, truck drivers, construction workers, longshoreman, nurses, bus drivers and others.