CONVENTION UPDATE IV: FOR WEDNESDAY JUNE 23rd - Day 3
CONVENTION UPDATE IV: FOR WEDNESDAY JUNE 23rd - Day 3
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RMA
If you do to the Federation what you did to LA, it’s all over but the Elegy.
Thanks to the economy and 30% of the smaller locals not being able to
afford to attend, the RMA and a few hundred of their lackeys have taken
over the federation of 85,000 members.
SUMMARY OF ELECTION RESULTS
AFM PRESIDENT:
Ray Hair - AFM Local 72-147 - RMA
INTERNATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT
Bruce Fife - AFM Local 542 - RMA
CANADIAN VICE-PRESIDENT
Bill Skolnick - AFM Local 149
INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER
Sam Folio - AFM Local 368
INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD
Tino Gagliardi - AFM Local 802
Tina Morrison - AFM Local 105
Joseph Parente - AFM Local 77
David Pomeroy - AFM Local 257
Vince Trombetta - AFM Local 47
The only anywhere near neutral people left are Joe Parente, Bill
Skolnick and Sam Folio.
We hope Mr. Hair and the others who drank the RMA kool-aide
know exactly who they’ve gotten into bed with. If not, they’ll find
out the moment they go against the wishes of the Dynastic Duo.
We hope the staff and officers of other Locals will help us keep an eye
on the new RMA administration running our federation. We’re always here.
You can certainly kiss goodbye any competitive contracts. You can probably
count on support for small locals disappearing as well.
It is only our long experience with the destruction created wherever the RMA
goes that makes us rather unhopeful.
We’re happy to have helped delay the takeover of the RMA for three years.
Time will certainly tell. We can say for certain that as bad as the egos of the
LOCAL 47 Officers were before, they’ll certainly be untenable now.
As it stands, we’re reminded of the final scene of the most recent Star Wars film,
when the dark side has taken over.
THE COMMITTEE
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A PRODUCTIVE BUT ULTIMATELY DISASTROUS DAY
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I. RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS - WEDNESDAY
The first committee up to report was the
ORGANIZATION AND LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
-RESOLUTION #7 passed as per committee recommendation.
This changed the word “Casual” to the word “Freelance” In all AFM literature.
- RECOMMENDATION #20 passed as amended per committee recommendation.
- RECOMMENDATION #19 passed as amended per committee recommendation.
This was to support congressional members who support anti-piracy.
- RECOMMENDATION #20 passed as per committee recommendation.
-RESOLUTION #2 passed as per committee recommendation.
This was to honor Mr. Bowers
- RECOMMENDATION #5 - a substitute recommendation passed as per committee recommendation.
Concerned info to the AFM from Locals.
This is where we started feeling the missing small locals (30% of Locals could
not afford to or chose not to come).
A standing vote had to be taken:
125 voted for the Recommendation
117 voted against.
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Next came the GOOD AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
- RECOMMENDATION #9 passed as per committee recommendation.
This changed the names of two different committees.
- RECOMMENDATION #17 passed as per committee recommendation.
Concerned wireless microphone licenses.
- RECOMMENDATION #18 passed as per committee recommendation.
Concerned the Employee Free Choice Act.
- RECOMMENDATION #21 passed as amended per committee recommendation.
Supporting Health Care.
- RECOMMENDATION #2 was withdrawn.
- RECOMMENDATION #7 passed as per committee recommendation.
Assistance program for freelancers.
- RECOMMENDATION #23 was withdrawn.
- RECOMMENDATION #24 was withdrawn.
- RESOLUTION #1 was withdrawn.
-RESOLUTION #3, 5 and 6 were ultimately withdrawn.
These were the Robert Levine resolutions to change the voting methods to favor larger locals.
(One man/One vote)
Mr. Levine tried to have one more meeting with the head of the Law Committee,
but the body voted down a postponement, so he withdrew them.
-RESOLUTION #9 passed as amended per committee recommendation.
Reimbursement of lawsuit fees to Local that involve the AFM.
-RESOLUTION #11 FAILED as per committee recommendation.
-RESOLUTION #12 FAILED as per committee recommendation.
-RESOLUTION #15 was withdrawn.
-RESOLUTION #16 substitute resolution passed as per committee recommendation.
collection of non-geographical work dues by Local 1000.
Next up was the FINANCE COMMITTEE
- RECOMMENDATION #3 was withdrawn.
The subject was already addressed in other actions.
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II. AFTER LUNCH/RECOMMENDATION #1
JOINT LAW/FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION #1
- The financial package.
Found to be favorable by the committee as a necessary rise in per capita
dues, having been lowered substantially from the original Recommendation.
Also would have removed the 2% fee on special payments the RMA has been
using as it’s MO for all the attacks on the Federation.
The majority of those who spoke spoke against it.
In a standing vote the final tally was:
For the package - 120
Against the package - 130
The Financial Package failed.
The main thread of the complaints was that the AFM must cut costs RATHER THAN
raise fees.
We can think of a couple of places to start:
1) Meetings could certainly be done via video conference.
2) Since so many organizations have had to cut salaries, we should consider slight cuts
in the Officers Salaries. Including those of Local 47 and Local 802.
3) We’d also suggest the next Convention happen on the East Coast. If we’re going to
share sacrifice, this is a good way.
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III. A WIN/WIN for the RMA
The defeat of Recommendation #1 signified a win/win for the RMA and their lackeys.
First, since none of the fees or dues increases were passed the federation will be in
more dire financial trouble.
Secondly, the failure of the package keeps the 2% fee on Special Payments in place,
they still have their bogeyman.
We suggest the first action of the Federation to be the insistence of the collections
department to go after the tens of thousands of dollars in 2% fees the RMAers have
refused to pay.
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IV. TROMBETTA WORKS THE CROWD
LOCAL 47 President Trombetta, was continuously overheard ringing the bell
about merging the AFM West Coast Office into Local 47’s building to save money.
During the debate, all the Local 47 Officers, after waiting for a respectable period
between each of their appearances, fulfilled their RMA agenda by getting up and
not only speaking against the Financial Package but pushing the West Coast
Office scheme to “save money”
He and his folks spent great energy getting delegates not informed enough
on Local 47 and the RMA’s true intentions to get up during the RECOMMENDATION
#1 debate proclaiming that the AFM West Coast office must be moved into the
Local 47 building to save money.
If the Local47/RMA succeed in getting the AFM West Coast Office moved to Local 47,
then Local 47 and the RMA decide to secede from the AFM and into the PMG or some
other organization, what would then happen to the AFM West Coast Office? Do they
think they’re going to take the West Coast Office with them?
We all know that the RMA leadership plans far ahead and have the July checks to
fund lawyers and researchers for any plan they might dream up.
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V. CONVENTION COMMENTS
Proposal for Moving Forward
a office or committee at the west coast AFM ofc - that is
dedicated to starting over with producers and employers -
meeting with them before the movie gets made, before
the show gets made - a committee that is proactive in
securing AFM work before it is slated to leave town - a
committee that goes out and educates the producers on
how they can work with the AFM with it’s current contracts
(since it seems there is never gonna be any leeway with
them) - a committee that makes relationships with NEW
FILM MAKERS - INDE production co.’s - so we can stop
the loss of recording work going out of town -
this should be easy to propose since the RMALA and the
AFM has been unsuccessful in preserving recording work in
LA - RMA and AFM just dont have the time to be pro active -
both agencies are RE active and it obviously doesnt work
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First of all: It is interesting that the writer who responded
to me decided not to put his or her name on the post. I guess
that anonymity is valued on a blog but not at a negotiation
caucus.
Secondly: anyone who has done commercial spots knows that the
person’s name that appears as leader on your check is not
someone on who is necessarily on ‘your’ side when you are
negotiating a collective bargaining agreement.
For anyone listening, the list of NY Ratifiers are indeed
employers and somehow they have some people convinced that
it is up to the AFM to save the jingle business. We are not
partners with them. We don’t share in their creative fees
and we don’t make their business decisions. We are employees.
And guess what folks, we cannot tell employers that they have
to use more live strings for their spots, more bassoons, or
any live musicians at all. And they will never promise in
writing to do it. Why should they? We could lower scale to
one dollar per session and they still would collect their
creative fees and use synthesizers and drum loops if they
choose to.
When you are making preparations to negotiate anything, you
don’t invite the other side to your meeting. Ever bought a car?
When you and your wife or husband need to discuss the details of
needs and financing, and what you are going to say to the dealership,
you don’t do it in front of the salesman. You don’t invite your
spouse to your meetings with your divorce lawyer. You don’t
invite the Nederlanders to your Broadway meetings And you don’t
invite jingle companies to your strategy meetings for the jingle
negotiation.
Wake up my friends. President Lee has set us up for failure here.
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[And don't ignore the current producer's comment: "The royalties
belong to the composer, not to the second violinist sitting inside
third stand."]
The royalties belong to EVERY union member who worked on a film that
turns a profit. The “editor” conveniently forgets that royalties
also go to the WGA, DGA, IATSE, etc. This one of the most outrageous
pro-management statements every to appear on this rag sheet.
[Editor's Comment: We did not write the quote above. It came from
a comment sent to us that we printed, just as we have printed yours.]
——- sent from the same contributor ———–
The COMMITTEE’s choices? for AFM officers and IEB members are a recipe
for disaster. Should those yo-yos prevail, there may no longer be an
AFM.
—-and yet another from the same contributor —–
Along with the rest of your ignorance it’s Saatchi & Saatchi, not
Sachy & Sachy. Do you even work in music?
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Would you let me/us know who you are? Such missives usually contain a byline.
[Editor's Comment: We are an AD HOC Committee of AFM Local 47 members in Los
Angeles concerned with our Local’s direction and the future for all our members.
This blog’s purpose is to act as a forum for members and other concerned musicians
to express their opinions anonymously, free of any fear of retribution from the present
power structure.]
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UNTIL NEXT TIME,
THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47
Visit us at www.responsible47.com
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:27 pm
[2) Since so many organizations have had to cut salaries, we should consider slight cuts in the Officers Salaries. Including those of Local 47 and Local 802.]
Since when do Local Officers’ salaries have any impact on the Federation’s finances? A complete disconnect here.