They have a monopoly on background casting and suspend and or terminate permanently without a review or giving "employee" a chance to explain their side of the story. So if say someone from crew or casting is having a bad day or has a personal issue with you outside of work that is all it takes for you to lose your job.
Union can't help because the system is broken and powerless. Union has no contract and therefore no bargaining power with casting agencies even though they are the ones who decide who works or does not. Highly unprofessional company that runs like a criminal lawless organization.
Their review system is only called as such to comply with labor laws but its is a farce and does not change or affect their decision which is always one sided and controlled by a committee....which is actually one person by the name of Melissa Leisure in LA office. [email protected]
This company needs to be investigated and be brought up on charges for illegal business practices as well as brought to a class action lawsuit for all the unfairly discharged peoples lost wages.
Polly Ester
Los Angeles,#2Consumer Comment
Fri, January 19, 2018
Central is now considered by the I.R.S. to be an E.S.O.P. This status works to the employees' benefit in a multitude of ways but does, indeed, work againat the background actors, particularly in one very noticeable way. Since they are now classified as an E.S.O.P., each casting director there is considered to be part owner of the company. This also enables egocentric casting directors the right to fire any background actpr they so chose at will and without notice, and definitely without consent of the other casting directors nor the conswnt of Central's "executive" staff.
If you should find yourself fired, contact Melissa at Central immediately and demand to know they exact reasonig why you were fired and why she, herself, never contacted you to hear your side of the story. After doing so, if ahe does not reinstate you or refuses to allow you to give either writtwn or verbl testimony, contact the California Labor Board for termination. Under I.R.S. laws, you are not an independent contractor but an employee and must given both notice of termination as well as a chance to dispute any decision made by them.