Major Hollywood Crew Union Takes Over In Oklahoma After “Financial Malpractice” Claims

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The Los Angeles-based Teamsters Local 399 is now welcoming many new members who are involved in film and television productions, following claims that “a consistent pattern of errors, oversights, and omissions” were discovered during an audit of the Oklahoma City-based Local 886.

Following a consensus decision made by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ top governing body, Local 399 now oversees film industry work within Oklahoma. According to a memo from International Brotherhood of Teamsters general president Sean O’Brien, shared on Thursday, it is the duty of local unions to prioritize their members’ welfare and effectively manage union resources. Therefore, he suggests that it would be beneficial for the motion picture workers presently represented by Local 886 to transfer to Teamsters Local 399, which has consistently supported and guided its film industry members.

Approximately 100 workers who were part of another union, the Teamsters, are now transferring to the Hollywood chapter, following the reported findings from an audit of Local 886. (This information has been obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.)

On March 11th, as reported by THR, Teamsters chief O’Brien announced that the Local had been temporarily taken over due to an emergency trusteeship. This action was prompted by audit results showing a recurring pattern of mistakes, omissions, and neglect in its management, which has proved detrimental to both the membership and the International Union.

Some notable issues were discovered in the reported findings. These included missing receipts for union fees and bank deposits into the General Fund, failure to submit an IRS Form 990 leading to a substantial fine, lack of financial transparency towards union members, unapproved salary increases for staff, questionable entries in accounting software, and unusual check-signing practices such as pre-signed checks, single-signature checks, and misuse of signature stamps. Additionally, an internal probe uncovered unexplained cash payments for dues, collection of cash dues by individuals without proper bonds or authorization.

Earlier, The Local underwent an audit, yet it failed to adhere to the advice given by the international union regarding proper receipt handling, motions, financial transactions requiring approval, dues structure, establishing a Travel/Expense policy, and other related matters as stated by O’Brien.

In my role as an enthusiastic supporter, O’Brien has entrusted me, a business manager from an Alabama affiliate, to act as a steward for Local 886. This stewardship is intended to address the financial mismanagement previously disclosed, ensure that contracts remain valid, and reestablish democratic processes, empowering members to oversee the Union’s affairs once more. As of Monday, their official website and Facebook page were temporarily unavailable.

Previously, Local 886 has faced criticisms. Not long before the trusteeship was implemented, the Tulsa-based Fox23 news channel broadcasted two investigative reports about alleged biased hiring practices within the local Teamster drivers for film and television, as well as suspicious activities in the workplace. In one of these reports, union driver Susan Dale (who worked on ‘Twisters’ and ‘Reservation Dogs’) spoke out against discriminatory hiring methods that favored male drivers from western parts of the state. “There are a chosen few who get all the jobs,” she stated.

A representative from Local 886’s legal team clarified to the news outlet that the union maintains an unranked roster of prospective drivers, implying that the individuals in charge of projects exercise full authority over whom from this list gets hired.

In late 2024, Dale submitted a complaint about an alleged unfair labor practice to the National Labor Relations Board, regarding the Local. However, as of now, the board hasn’t made its decision on this matter.

On Friday, Dale stated that she’d been advocating for a larger group and sending information to the international union regarding Local 399 taking control of Oklahoma film work for approximately a year. She expressed her belief that Local 399 would perform significantly better than what their current union had been accomplishing.

Last Friday, Dale said she’d been working on behalf of a larger group and sending info to the international union about Local 399 taking over Oklahoma film work for around a year. She thinks Local 399 will do a much better job than what their own union has been doing.

2022 saw a sense of familiarity arise for Local 399, as they took over union duties for members in New Mexico. This transition occurred after a thorough financial review had been conducted. The international’s governing board stepped in due to substantial worries expressed by the members about the referral rules and financial system within the New Mexico Local. Consequently, the motion picture jurisdiction was shifted from the New Mexico Local to Local 399, according to Deadline’s report of that year.

Over the past few years, Oklahoma has emerged as a significant player in the domestic film production industry. It’s been home to various projects such as Minari, Tulsa King, Killers of the Flower Moon, Reservation Dogs, and Twisters, among others. This is largely due to a generous annual rebate program, which caps out at $30 million. In some instances, local entities like the Cherokee Nation also provide additional tax incentives for productions seeking to establish themselves within their territories.

In a statement to THR, Lindsay Dougherty, director of Teamsters motion picture division and leader of Teamsters Local 399, expressed excitement about collaborating with Oklahoma film and television workers. She aims to facilitate the process “as smoothly, quickly, openly, and effectively as possible.” Furthermore, she emphasized that her team is committed to ensuring equal representation for each member, all while treating them with the highest dignity and respect.

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2025-03-25 16:54