44 President Merrick Justice Fund

“Dutch has been told that he must now pay a $12,000.00 tab for his own impeachment trial.
Further the fine is tied to quarterly member dues with the office refusing separate payment. All this despite his case being under currently appeal to IATSE President Matt Loeb”

 

After several terms serving as a Craft representative, Dutch Merrick was Popularly Elected as Local 44 President. Both are unsalaried positions.

 

In the 2019 Local election cycle; Dutch Merrick’s efforts and energy were central to doubling local 44 voter participation, for the first time in over a decade.

Dutch continued to work on behalf of the membership during his time as President and Chair of the Board,  encouraging cross local discussions at the presidential level and among the rank and file membership on our sets.

Faced with a longstanding  culture of discouragement and many entrenched alliances from day one; throughout his term Dutch weathered repeated opposition and hostility from key Officer positions for his effectiveness and outside of the box thinking.

Despite efforts to continue within increasingly restrictive edicts, Dutch was eventually forced out of office in a show trial impeachment deliberated by the same Executive board that raised charges against him.  

After the impeachment trial date was announced, no member questions regarding the situation were allowed at the only scheduled membership meeting in advance of the event.
In a triumph of institutional opacity; with the outcome a foregone conclusion, 

the process was still closed to even handwritten note taking from the tiny contingent of member observers allowed in the hearing.

Dutch has been told that he must now pay a $12,000.00 tab for his own impeachment trial.
Further the fine is tied to quarterly member dues with the office refusing separate payment.

All this despite his case being under currently appeal to IATSE President Matt Loeb.

For his efforts on behalf of uniting and engaging the membership Dutch Merrick now faces losing his ability to provide for his family.
He is faced with losing his membership status and everything tied to it.

Many of us close to these events see this warped outcome as; clearly vindictive, grossly unjust bullying from a bygone era,  and a massive misdirection of member resources.

 

The current fund is being created so that we can contribute support in light of these circumstances.

Join us in solidarity with a true Union Brother, fellow Filmworker and popularly Elected Local 44 President  Dutch Merrick,  who should be celebrated for his efforts, not fined.

the Union is You it is all of Us.