The National Confederation of Labor (CNT) has denounced an aggression during the filming of Marvel's 'The Eternals' in Lanzarote, to which it claims that union colleagues traveled to distribute information.
"What began as a simple distribution of union information, where four colleagues from the union in Lanzarote traveled to the base area of the filming of 'The Eternals', a Marvel super production in which the Canarian production company El Viaje Film is involved, ended with medical assistance and an injury report for one of the colleagues," the union assures.
According to CNT, "the colleagues were heckled by members of the organization, who even snatched the leaflets they were distributing, and then began to push them." In addition, it highlights that "they tried to immobilize a colleague among several people by putting his arms behind his back, grabbed him by the neck and knocked him to the ground, as a result of which he suffered a severe contusion and contracture that prevented him from moving, which were reflected in the hospital's injury report, after being picked up in an ambulance."
The union even attaches images of the alleged aggression, which were "taken by another of the union colleagues given the seriousness of the matter." In them, it points out that it can be seen how "up to three individuals are in charge of pushing the colleague out, in a bad way, even involving personnel from the organization of the Canarian production company El Viaje Film, but also personnel from the filming's own catering, La Cuchara de Palo."
Work "with conditions inferior to those established"
In this regard, the union points out that it considers that "the presence of unions is important in order to defend the rights of workers in the audiovisual sector" because "it is an industry that people see as something fun, it is a passion, a hobby and not a job." "Many people want to be on TV and that is why when they see an offer for an extra they don't even ask if they get paid for it," he adds.
"The activity of the CNT in a sector in which the presence of unions on film sets is anecdotal in most places is of special relevance," indicates the union, which explains that for this reason "colleagues from CNT Canarias make a great effort to visit film sets, to worry about the real situation of audiovisual workers." "Actresses, actors, extras and technical personnel must see the union as their tool to defend themselves and improve their situation," he adds.
In this sense, CNT points out that although this sector expects growth with the arrival of large digital platforms, "at the same time, so much fiction offer brings a lot of work that in too many cases is with conditions inferior to those established in collective agreements."
"The Canary Islands are no exception, quite the opposite. Large international productions such as the Star Wars or Bourne sagas come to record in the fortunate islands for their variety of scenarios, stable climate and, it must be said, advantageous tax conditions. The Film Commissions throughout the country seek to offer as many advantages as possible to these giants of the film industry, but what about the rights of those who make the magic of cinema possible?" he questions.
"We are not willing to consent or tolerate"
In addition, CNT points out that "informing workers of their labor rights is the basic union activity that the Constitution attributes to unions and is a fundamental right." In addition, CNT points out that "informing workers of their labor rights is the basic union activity that the Constitution attributes to unions and is a fundamental right." That is why it says it does not understand "that a company like El Viaje Films resorts to violence to prevent CNT members from exercising such a right."
"A colleague of ours has been attacked when they went to visit the workers of the latest Marvel superhero movie. Facts that we are not willing to consent or tolerate and that only reaffirm our commitment to the working class of the Canary Islands and those who work in the audiovisual sector. Some time ago our delegate in Madrid was pushed down a staircase, fortunately without consequences, but we see that practices contrary not only to the law but to the simplest common sense are repeated in the midst of negotiations of collective agreements for audiovisual technicians, actors and soon extras. Is this the attitude that employers are going to have at the negotiating tables?" the union asks.
"Well, if those are going to be their ways, we make it clear that they do not intimidate us, that the power is in those who do the work and that we are willing to show them that the audiovisual workers with the appropriate organization will stand up to abuses," he concludes.
