I would like to thank you for a great article about Hollywood and the movie and TV industry. But we must not forget that the process doesn't stop there. There are many Local 40 members who convert that camera film into the thousands of copies of movie reels that go out to your local movieplex.

I work at Technicolor in North Hollywood, where we process the film from the cameras. We make a positive print—called a daily—for the studios so they can see what they have filmed the day before. After all the editing, color correcting, adding of digital effects and many other steps, the final approval is given from the studios and we start printing and developing all of the copies that go out to your movie theater. In the glory days when the studios would do more movies than they do now, Technicolor could develop nearly nine million feet of 35 mm film a day.

The Local 40 members at Technicolor are responsible for all the light and power in two buildings, air conditioning and boilers and electrical components and level and temperature controls on the printing and developing machines.

It is satisfying to go the movie theatre and watch a movie that was processed at Technicolor in North Hollywood.

Allan Horn
Local 40 member, Los Angeles

Any reputable survey of union membership in the United States will tell you that the numbers are severely down. Organized labor has suffered membership losses fairly steadily for decades. Back in the days of highest numbers, the percentages of union members compared to all workers was not even a majority. In the 1950s, union membership was approximately 45 percent of the total work force. Organized labor has always been outnumbered.

But today, our numbers are shockingly low. Depending on which survey or estimate of workers is used, the numbers are anywhere from 17 percent to 12 percent or even lower. Some business-friendly organizations put the levels near 7 percent.

Simply carrying a paid-up dues receipt in your wallet is no longer the "all-in-all" it used to be. So don't just carry a ticket in your pocket. Do your best to represent the organized labor movement by making sure that your conduct, attitude and performance are of the highest standard. All you do reflects on every other person who carries a ticket. Exercise your ability to see more than just what's directly in front of you. See to the future. See to what you are producing for upcoming generations of union workers.

The sacrifices and hard labors of the generation that preceded you were vital to what you have now. Your sacrifices and hard labors will be directly responsible for the union that you hand over when your working days are ended.

We are all in this together. Let's keep it that way. That's why it's called a "union."

Reggie Marselus
Local 124 retiree, Kansas City, Mo.

I've been an IBEW member for 38 years and intend to end my membership as soon as possible. I have not always agreed with which presidential candidate the IBEW chose to support, but accepted the fact it was always a Democrat. What I cannot accept is the IBEW's continued support of the present administration, specifically nationalized health care.

Democrats are trying to push this plan through before the people know what's in it or how much it will cost. It's not working in Canada or Great Britain and a majority of U.S. citizens don't want it. Unions are sending members to town hall meetings to repay favors from Democrats.

IBEW has become synonymous with SEIU and ACORN as supporters of an administration that is spending our nation into financial ruin. Our government is headed to socialism without any regard for the Constitution. For this reason, I can no longer support the IBEW.

Fenton Wyatt Jr.
Local 50 member, Richmond, Va.