Background on a network show (Taft-Hartley) — $187/day, eye-opening

Got Taft-Hartley'd for a day of background on a network procedural shooting in NYC. SAG minimum — $187/8 hours. I'm sharing this not because the gig was special, but because the contrast with non-union work was jarring: - Holding was a heated, clean room with real chairs (not folding) - Breakfast AND lunch provided (real meals, not gas station sandwiches) - An actual PA checking in on us every hour - Overtime after 8 hours — I did 10 and got bumped to about $250 - The AD said "we're almost done, thank you for your patience" when we ran long Compare this to my last non-union micro drama: folding chairs, granola bars, 14-hour day, and the AD yelled at someone for asking when lunch was. The rate isn't amazing. But the respect? Night and day. I get why people fight to join the union.