By [ad_1]
Last week we reported that a group of Image contributors are forming a workers union, as though that actually solves anything. And here’s what’s concerning:
Some of the concrete goals the union hopes to achieve include a “plan to address the overall lack of diversity in both general staff and management,” the continuation or remote work, pay and workload transparency, as well as improved career mobility. The final goal proposes a collective voting action against creators “found to have engaged in abuse, sexual assault, racism and xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, ableism, etc,” which could result in cancelling their publication.
I find it reprehensible how they predictably lump “homo/transphobia” and “Islamophobia” into their stated goals, not just because this all stinks of cancel culture tactics, but also because one has to wonder: if LGBT practitioners condemn Islamofascists who believe in visiting violence upon homosexuals, will the former be blacklisted by the union for panning the latter, proving Islam is considered superior to homosexuality? Will the unionists also refuse to work with say, Orthodox Judaist rabbis who consider homosexuality an unhealthy practice? Or, will the union blacklist Israelis opposed to Islamic antisemitism, and 911 Families for a Safe America if they take a similar stance?
It goes without saying that such a union that won’t champion free speech rights for those believe in civility cannot be trusted to deliver for the medium, and these union formers seem more interested in social justice agendas than in more serious issues. That’s why it’d be ill-advised for anybody with common sense to join their union, if this is what they care about.
Vice reports that Image hasn’t agreed to recognize this union, nor have they issued any official response to it:
Motherboard reached out to Image chief operating officer Robert Kirkman, famed writer of The Walking Dead, through his agent, and did not receive a response. We also reached out to Jim Lee to ask about the workers at a company he founded unionizing, and through a representative both Lee and DC declined to comment.
Considering how bad Lee’s proven to be in his politics, that’s why it’s best if he doesn’t respond either. After all the harm he’s enabled at DC, I don’t think most sensible people would want to hear what he has to say regardless of the position.
Update from Gizmodo:
Image Comics subsequently said in a statement that it has “always believed in the fair and equitable treatment of staff and has always strived to support employees” to the best of its ability. Image has opted to bring the National Labor Relations Board in as a third party. In a statement provided to Motherboard, Image explained that it would like to hold a secret ballot vote overseen by the NLRB to determine whether the Communications Workers of America union should represent them.
“Earlier this week, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) filed a representation petition with the National Labor Relations Board asking to hold a secret-ballot election so that eligible members of the Image Comics office staff can determine if they want the CWA to represent them in their employment with Image,” Image said. “The NLRB is currently reviewing that petition to determine when that election will be held, where it will take place, and who can vote.”
Originally published here.
[ad_2]
