Archives: October 2005
10/19/05 Radio City Entertainment on International Unfair List
ALERT: A MEMBERSHIP ADVISORY
From AFM President, Tom Lee
Re: RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR:
Local 802 is in the midst of a bitter struggle with Radio City Entertainment (RCE), which is the entertainment arm of Cablevision, a multi-billion dollar corporation and the producer of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, over a new contract for the tenured orchestra that plays for the Christmas Spectacular. Despite record profits approaching $100 million per year for this show, RCE demanded that the musicians accept a severe reduction in their annual income from the show. Now that Local 802 has rejected their concessionary bargaining tactics, RCE is attempting to find replacement musicians from anywhere in the USA, Canada or Europe to either SCAB or CREATE A TAPE to replace our musicians.
There is a strong rumor that RCE or its allies will try to reach out to unemployed Louisiana musicians, as a way of making it look like a charitable gesture rather than scabbing.
The American Federation of Musicians of the USA and Canada has placed RCE on the AFM International Unfair List, which means that no AFM member is permitted to work on this production during this dispute.
As President of the AFM and in accordance with Article 8, Section 3 of the AFM’s Bylaws, I am directing all members of the AFM not to perform services or accept any offer of work from RCE and/or in connection with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
If you have any information or questions regarding this matter, please contact Mary Donovan at: mdonovan[at]local802afm[dot]org or 212.245.4802, ext 156.
In Solidarity,
Tom Lee
President
American Federation of Musicians
10/13/05 Musicians Advised Not to Play Palm Beach Pops Recording Sessions
Please be advised that the Palm Beach Pops is planning to record several non-Union sessions with a large orchestra in South Florida this weekend. This organization has a history of avoiding negotiations with the AFM. They have refused requests to record this project under AFM agreements. The pay and working conditions being offered are below those of AFM agreements. Many musicians are refusing to play these non-AFM sessions under these conditions.If you are contacted by the Palm Beach Pops to play on this recording, please realize that by accepting this dark date, you would not only be accepting pay that is below scale, a lack of benefits, and lack of protection for New Use, but you would also be undercutting your fellow musicians who are trying to make a stand for fair and acceptable treatment.
For more information, please contact:
Steve Roitstein
Vice President
AFM Local 655, South Florida
steve[at]afm655[dot]org
954-925-1996
10/01/05 That Union Thing
Performers, reporters, producers, technicians, writers, editors, and photographers at the Hialeah Gardens Spanish-language station America TeVe, WJAN Channel 41, have filed for union representation through a National Labor Relations Board election. They seek to be represented by the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), and hope that union representation will enable them to gain basics such as breaks and mealtimes, as well as benefits such as paid vacation and medical insurance, which they currently do not receive.
10/01/05 Industry News
Local/Club Date
The State of Florida has approved $28.6 million in arts funding for fiscal 2006. This return to the level of funding of prior years after the recent reduction to $6 million for the past two years is due in part to a tax windfall.
10/01/05 Member Benefits
Health Insurance Now Available!
Local 655 is pleased to announce a new benefit available to members only...Primary Care and Major Medical health insurance, which can be purchased separately or together. Both plans feature no networks: Any Doctor, Any Hospital, Anywhere! For more information, please call the Local or visit the health insurance website at:
Http://www.musicmedicalflorida.com
10/01/05 Official Business
Newsletter to be Distributed Electronically
Online at: Http://www.afm655.org/newsletter in both text and PDF formats. The Local will begin transitioning to electronic delivery, rather than paper copies by U.S. Mail, for those who have e-mail addresses on file with the Local. Please watch your e-mail for information on opting in (or opting out) of electronic delivery. Thank you!
10/01/05 Double Times
Florida Philharmonic Bankruptcy
The musicians’ claims have finally been agreed to, and we await resolution of a claim by former music director James Judd before claims can be paid, which unfortunately will not be before December. Thanks go to FPO committee members Jay Bertolet and Geoff Hale for helping to get the largest claims possible for FPO members.
10/01/05 Studio Beat
Members: The Strength of Our Local
We’ve been building momentum at Local 655. Lots of good things are happening, and it all centers around our members. The more the members are involved in this Local, the better things get.
