Much ado about no union for film crew

WHAT is supposed to be a tale of Latin heroism shot in west Cork is fast turning into an edgy melodrama as producers face the wrath of a disgruntled trade union movement.

Enter stage left the production team of The Runway, which is based on the real-life exploits of Mexican pilot Captain Ruben Ocana, who in May 1983 emergency-landed an executive jet on Mallow Racecourse as it ran out of fuel during a flight from New Jersey to Munich.

The film crew, working in Goleen, want to tell the story of how he managed the landing and became a much-loved local celebrity in the 39 days he waited for a runway to be built from which he could take off.

Enter stage right, a group of up to 30 trade unionists who are throwing a theatrical strop over the fact that there are a number of crew members on set who are non-Irish, non-trade union members, something which they feel is a contravention of the trade union code of practice in the Irish film industry.

The film’s producer, Macdara Kelleher, is unapologetic.

“We are doing a co-production with Luxembourg and Sweden. There is a requirement when you do any European co-production to have certain crew members from other countries. They [the protesters] are protesting about having workers from other countries coming to Ireland.

“They even had a placard up saying Irish need not apply even though 80%-90% of the crew are from SIPTU and have no issue. We have 20 in the cast, all Irish and the whole town is helping us out.”

Nevertheless the crew make-up is unacceptable to Building and Allied Trade Union’s Dan O’Connell, who said, while they have no issue with non-nationals working at the site, their lack of union representation is unacceptable.

“With the use of these workers, they are breaking an established union agreement in the film industry. Workers on sets here have to be members of the relevant union. Those brought in from other countries should apply for temporary membership of the relevant union.”

The drama will go up a notch if the matter is not resolved by this evening.

If it is not, the protesting union members will be calling on their fellow union members on The Tudors set in Bray to pull down the curtain on production.