Iatse

Regarding "An English Empire?" and " 'Love & War,' English & Health Benefits," by Daniel Cerone (Sept. 20): Although Cerone correctly pointed out that if Murphy Brown worked on Diane English's production crew she and her baby would have no medical benefits, I would like to add a number of important points. First, English's company is not some poor, fledgling independent concern unable to afford a collective-bargaining agreement with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes.

Regarding your interview with film producer Lawrence Bender ("Hey, Chili, Meet a Real Producer," Calendar, Jan. 6): As an international representative of more than 35,000 film, TV and stage technicians for IATSE here in California, and as someone who has had direct contact with Larry, let the readers not be fooled. Bender is quoted as saying: "A low-budget filmmaker in L.A. just has to pray that the unions don't catch you." In fact, L.A. and IATSE will work with any budget to make independent film producers stay here in L.A. This is strictly Larry Bender and Quentin Tarantino exercising their warped mentality as control freaks . . . and saving a dollar upon the backs of labor.

As a Set Decorator who has worked for many years in Hollywood, I am compelled to bring to your attention the fact that in the Art Direction category of your Oscar Ballot (April 10) you incorrectly referred to the category of Set Decorator as Set Director . In this entertainment-oriented town, it would behoove you to get your categories and job titles straight. DEBORAH SIEGEL Set Decorator IATSE-Local 44

As a Los Angeles-based film worker, I find it outrageous that The Times would publish an article about a Vancouver studio teacher in the column "Working Hollywood" ["On the Set, Some Lessons Learned," Feb. 6]. Runaway production is still a serious issue for me and thousands of other workers in this city and this country, and The Times' apparent tone deafness on the issue is not appreciated. Perhaps "Hollywood Not Working" would have been a more apt title. Alan Disler Los Angeles Alan Disler is an assistant cameraman and a member of IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees)

It's a wrap for the union representing the workers who toil behind Hollywood's cameras, as it reached a new labor agreement a full eight months before the current one expires. The agreement between studios and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, reached Saturday and unveiled Monday, affects about 30,000 workers largely in Los Angeles. It stands in sharp contrast to last year's tense, down-to-the-wire studio talks involving writers and actors.

Negotiators for Hollywood's craft unions and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers reached a tentative agreement Wednesday for a new, three-year contract. Terms were not disclosed. Settlement was achieved after the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees earlier this month mailed strike-authorization ballots to members of the 23 craft unions it represented at the bargaining table.

Sandra Berke-Jordan, 70, president of the Motion Picture Costumers, IATSE Local 705, died of natural causes Sunday at home in Van Nuys. Born July 29, 1937 in Brooklyn, N.Y., Berke-Jordan was a motion picture costumer for more than 30 years. Among her credits are "The Godfather: Part II," "Heaven's Gate," "The Deer Hunter," "Splash" and "Pee-wee's Big Adventure."

Crew members from the reality TV series "Fashion Star" walked off the job Saturday morning in a dispute over efforts to secure union representation. Production of the show was suspended Saturday when about 75 crew members struck and began picketing outside Hollywood Center Studios at 8 a.m. The strike was led by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which has been waging an ongoing campaign to extend union benefits to crew members who work behind the scenes on reality TV shows.