From: grant@autodesk.COM (Grant Hogarth)
Subject: FWD: Protect your right to be an Independent Contractor
Organization: The Internet
Distribution: inet
Date: 15 Apr 92 00:55:22 GMT

Although this might be considered to be slightly peripheral to the main 
thrust of this list, I think that enough people are affected by it to 
warrant the bandwidth.
(And if I'm wrong, I'll be a flaming crater :-)  )

Grant.

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>From adavis@ibmpa.awdpa.ibm.com(Andrew Davis) Tue Apr 14 17:22:42 1992
Subject: Protect your right to be an Independent Contractor

                                                                April 14, 1992


If you are a technical communicator working on contract, or hope to be one
some day, this note should interest you.


It is no secret that a number of state and federal laws currently complicate
life for independent contractors working in the technical services industry.

Unfortunately from our point of view, antagonistic special interest groups
continue to join forces with myopic lawmakers to introduce more such legislation.

The time has come to proactively protect our interests.  Unless we do so, we
may soon no longer have the option of working as independent contractors.


What Are We Doing About This Problem?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A group of concerned technical communicators is working to set up a Phone
Tree to amplify our voice and, we hope, to help persuade lawmakers that our
interests ultimately coincide with theirs and, yes, with those of the country
as a whole.

We don't represent a particular political affiliation, professional
organization, or religious persuasion; we just believe that our right to free
enterprise is being threatened and are choosing to do something about it.

Furthermore, WE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO INTO ACTION
SOON ON A MAJOR NEW INITIATIVE.


How Does the Phone Tree Work?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's simple.  When we learn of issues that require our input, we all help
spread the word.  The goal is to express the appropriate political response
loudly and in unison.


How Can You Help?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At this time, we're building a foundation for future activity.  We're
interested in hearing from you now if you can commit to the following:

 [ ]	Send us two self-addressed stamped envelopes (29-cent stamps) so
	that, when we hear about relevant issues, we can send you timely
	background and strategic information.

	Send your SASEs to:

	Andrew Davis
	1824 Byron Avenue
	San Mateo, CA  94401-3404

 [ ]	Create your own branch of the Phone Tree by calling five other
	people who work, or plan to work, as independent contractors.  Urge
	them to take the actions we suggest (usually making a call to a
	senator or congressperson, or writing a letter).

	Note that the people in your branch of the Phone Tree don't have to
	be technical communicators.  The legislation to which we are
	responding affects all independent contractors in the technical
	services industry and beyond.

 [ ]	Pass the information we send you (including this note) on to
	interested individuals.  Tell them about the INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
	ACTION HOTLINE (discussed below).


Hotline for Updates on Laws Affecting Independent Contractors
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most independent contractors have learned that what they don't know probably
*will* hurt them.  For example, Section 1706 -- the law that subjects
contract technical communicators to the infamous "20 Questions" to determine
whether we are indeed contractors or just employees -- was a late-night
add-on to much more visible legislation.  We didn't see it coming, and we're
still trying to undo the damage it has caused.

In order to help prevent similar surprises in the future, we have created the
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR ACTION HOTLINE to help spread news about upcoming
legislation.  Beginning immediately, you can call it for up-to-the-minute
details, including information on:

- whom to call
- when to call them
- what to say
- how to say it

The hotline can be reached at (510) 869-4289.
                              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

What to Do When You Receive the IC-Related Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you send us two (or more) SASEs, we will send you news of our first major
independent contractor-related initiative, followed by strategic information
for making our voice heard.

When you receive it, first make sure you understand the issues.  If you need
clarification, call the INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR ACTION HOTLINE (see above).
If you need more answers, get in touch with Andrew Davis at (415) 344-2141 or
call the Phone Tree member who originally enlisted your support.

When you are sure you understand the 'mission', call the people on your
branch of the Phone Tree.  Feel free to mail, email, fax, or even Fed-Ex them
the background information we provide.  The goal is to communicate efficiently.

Encourage your Phone Tree contacts to propagate the message, and to get in
touch with you if they (or their colleagues) have questions.  However, be
careful not to overdo it; this information is complex and, too thinly spread,
can be counterproductive to our cause.


For More Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are ready to participate in the Phone Tree but have questions, don't
hesitate to get in touch.  Also, please pass this note along to anyone you
know who may have an interest in participating (including readers of other
network news groups).  Thanks very much!

- Andrew Davis
  Technical Writer and Independent Contractor

1824 Byron Avenue
San Mateo, CA  94401-3404
Res:           415.344-2141
Work:          415.855-3240 (*)
Internet:      adavis@ibmpa.awdpa.ibm.com (*)

* Work phone and Internet address effective only until May 8, 1992


--> Remember, the sooner you send in your SASEs, the sooner we can mobilize.
                                          ^^^^
===
The Society for Technical Communication (STC) does not endorse efforts to
change the laws.  The opinions expressed here are my own.

WasTo: rcasey@oracle.com (Rex Casey), 
        claire.yskamp@ebay.sun.com (Claire Yskamp),
        eleveren@oracle.com (Lefty Leverenz),
        grant@autodesk.com (Grant Hogarth),
        starnet!bruce@apple.com (Bruce Roberts),
        arcady@well.sf.ca.us (Marc Weber), 
        rbruman@raynet.com (Ray Bruman),
        kathleen@cats.com (Kathleen Kerrigan), 
        jtchew@csa3.lbl.gov (Joe Chew),
        sloane@sgi.com (Gary Sloane at SGI),
        davec@autodesk.com (Dave Cooper at Autodesk)
WasCc: bruceh@well.sf.ca.us (Bruce Hartford),
        73437.3241@compuserve.com (Mimi Jones),
        wet!ed@ucsfcca.BITNET (Ed Steussy), 
        lasher@oracle.com (Lori Asher),
        lrollins@mcimail.com (Lynn Rollins), 
        pjew@oracle.com (Peter Jew),
        mnouaux@oracle.com (Mike Nouaux),
        carol@unify.com (Carol Collins at Unify),
        barb@sybase.com (Barbara Miller at Sybase),
        jessica.bernhardt@eng.sun.com (Jessica Bernhardt at SunSolutions)


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