California Labor Federation Endorses 'Biggest Loser' Strike

6:10 PM PST 11/18/2010 by Jonathan Handel

Comments

Group represents 2.1 million union members; it's sending email blast Friday to 50,000 union activists.

Labor ratcheted up the pressure on NBC’s Biggest Loser on Thursday, with the California Labor Federation declaring a strike sanction, i.e., endorsement, of IATSE’s strike against the reality television series and its production entities, Reveille Prods., 25/7 Prods. and 3 Ball Prods.

•Labor

"A television show is only as good as its production crew," said Art Pulaski, executive secretary-treasurer of the California Labor Federation. "The striking crew members on 'The Biggest Loser' put their heart and soul into creating a quality show each and every week. It's shameful that the show and its production entities have shown so little respect for those who are so integral to the show's success."

In an exclusive interview with THR, a spokesperson for the federation said that the organization would be sending an email blast on Friday to 50,000 union activists, as well a disseminating word of the strike sanction to its constituent unions and encouraging members to join the picket lines.

The 50-member crew is on strike seeking a union contract, primarily in order to obtain pension and health benefits. The show is already signatory to AFTRA and DGA contracts, but the striking crew is not covered by those unions.

The California Labor Federation is made up of more than 1,200 AFL-CIO and Change to Win unions, representing 2.1 million union members in manufacturing, retail, construction, hospitality, public sector, health care, entertainment and other industries.

Earlier in the week, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor issued a strike sanction as well.