Is Fashion Ready for a Modeling Trade Union?

The idea has been bandied about for years now, but models seem to be getting serious about putting together a trade union. The Independent has an article today on top models coming together to form just such an organization. Right at the outset there is some degree of cynicism as to the purpose and the good that a modeling trade union would do. Having been on shoots and seeing how these talents get treated, I can say with no pause that models definitely need some sort of union or someone looking out for them. The easiest way to look at it is twofold.

1. Models are very you when they get into the industry. Being young means that there are a lot of things you have to learn on your own that few are willing to teach you and many more are willing to take advantage. The agencies are businesses and although they are supposed to have the model’s best interest at heart, they are a business.

2. Most models don’t make thousands of dollars to walk down a runway. While some do, most models don’t make much to walk down a runway or work a photo shoot. In fact most models don’t make hundreds of dollars for shoots. Most models work for a book that leads to a job at a makeup counter. It sounds grim and gloomy the masses are not paid well and after a couple of years they usually have little to nothing to show for it.

A model’s union could function very similar to the writer’s guild you see striking today. The union would negotiate base wages with publications, TV shows, designers etc. The union would also work to ensure that these perennial independent contractors have money stored away, when modeling is not an option anymore. Issues, with weight, non-paying organization and other problems that arise from time to time could be brought to this union.

We’re hoping that the union idea works. It’s long in coming and makes plenty of sense.

Read: Model’s Join Equity trade union (Independent)