PRESIDENT’S COLUMN\/ACCOUNTABILITY\/BYLAWS\/FMA\/TRIVIA\/COMMENTS<\/p>\n
I. READ PRESIDENT ESPINOSA\u2019S COLUMN THIS MONTH?
\nII. HOLDING OFF ACCOUNTABILITY
\nIII. MORE FUN WITH BYLAWS
\nIV. LATEST FMA OFFERING
\nV, TRIVIA
\nVI. COMMENTS<\/p>\n
============<\/p>\n
GREETINGS COLLEAGUES!<\/p>\n
I. READ PRESIDENT ESPINOSA\u2019S COLUMN THIS MONTH?<\/p>\n
President Espinosa has taken up the mantle of RMA
\nmouthpiece again. The majority of his column talks
\nabout how there should be only one video game
\nagreement, and that those who do the sessions
\nshould be the ones to do the negotiations.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The single video game contract the RMA leadership
\nwants limits the number of our members who can
\nrecord video games under a union contact because
\nits terms turn away a great deal of work. More options
\nfor contracts means more options for OUR members
\nto work under a union contract, more health and
\nwelfare and more in our members\u2019 pensions. If Mr.
\nEspinosa truly were interested in the most members
\nworking he would embrace as many options as possible.
\nDoes he?<\/p>\n
Be that as it may, there\u2019s only one problem with his
\n\u2018one contract\u2019 and \u2018those who do the sessions should
\nmake the rules theory.\u2019,\u2026 they\u2019re both wrong.<\/p>\n
How? ALL musicians should have a say in all contracts
\nwithin reason. How else to make sure that no group
\ntries to shape the rules to benefit only themselves to
\nthe detriment of everyone else, including those who
\nactually do the sessions. <\/p>\n
Why? If the negotiation of those contracts are decided
\nsolely by those who do the sessions, in this case by
\nthe RMA leadership, you can bet they will protect
\nonly THEIR interests to the disadvantage of everyone
\nelse, including those hoping to do recording work
\nthemselves. It\u2019s not supposition, we\u2019ve seen it
\nagain and again.<\/p>\n
A perfect example? Those very same Video Game
\nsessions.<\/p>\n
Before the new buyout agreements, producers\u2019 only
\noptions were the full RMA desired agreement that
\nvirtually guaranteed an almost non-existent
\nfraction of those games being done here, or
\nrecording anywhere (and we do mean ANYWHERE)
\nelse in the world! Under the weight of the RMA
\nagreement very few games were being done here
\nand Seattle was scoring games hand over fist.
\nDon\u2019t take our words for it, check the Seattle
\nwebsite yourself, http:\/\/www.seattlemusic.com\/.
\nThere is even a very busy copy house up there
\nnow. You can look at their credits here:
\nhttp:\/\/www.rpmseattle.com\/ .<\/p>\n
THE NEW CONTRACTS done without the
\ninterference of the RMA, but using their
\nagreement as a partial basis, have been
\ninfinitely more productive in getting that
\nwork back.<\/p>\n
FACT: Now we have much more of the video
\ngame work being done union, only it\u2019s in San
\nFrancisco, particularly at Skywalker Ranch.
\nWhere did that work come from?,\u2026 SEATTLE!
\nOnce we had a workable AFM buyout agreement
\nfor video games, a product that doesn\u2019t even pay
\nthe composer secondary market funds, the work
\ncame back from Seattle to Union venues. Don\u2019t
\nbelieve us? Check the Skywalker Ranch website.
\nEven Seattle contractors admitted it to us. Notice
\nthe jump in scores in 2006.
\nhttp:\/\/www.skysound.com.<\/p>\n
Why didn\u2019t it come back here? A small fraction did,
\nbut as we\u2019ve told you and composers have told us,
\nthat little stunt with the Simpson\u2019s Video Games
\nsessions soured them on LA.<\/p>\n
Who can you thank for that? The RMA leaderships\u2019
\nactions and no one else. It was their members who
\n\u201curged\u201d members not to play those sessions, leading
\nat least half the orchestra to bail on them, leading
\nthe composer to go to San Francisco.<\/p>\n
Now, most of the union video game work is in San
\nFrancisco and other locales, NOT Los Angeles.
\nConsidering the clients\u2019 happiness with the out of
\nLA product, they will continue to record elsewhere. <\/p>\n
Mr. Espinosa seems to want to continue the business
\nmodels that led to the work leaving to begin with, not
\nto mention leading many decades-long members to be
\nso fed up with the lack of representation that they
\nwent fi-core.<\/p>\n
==========<\/p>\n
II. HOLDING OFF ACCOUNTABILITY<\/p>\n
The charges against two of the founders of the
\nProfessional Musicians Guild, Andy Malloy and
\nMarc Sazar, for creating their illegal organization
\nare still in full force. The IEB (International Executive
\nBoard) has been trying to move the process forward.<\/p>\n
The IEB has scheduled hearings into the issue at
\nleast twice, but on both occasions Mr. Sazar and
\nMr. Malloy have said the timings weren\u2019t \u2018convenient\u2019
\nfor them.<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t think the Charges are legit?<\/p>\n
Remember that according to AFM Bylaws:<\/p>\n
\u2028Article 10: Section 3\u2028\u2028: “No AFM member shall be
\npermitted to hold membership in any union of\u2028
\nmusicians not affiliated with the AFM or in any
\nother organization or\u2028 association of musicians
\nthat has a goal or engages in a pattern of conduct
\n\u2028undermining or weakening the legitimate interests
\nof the AFM or any affiliated Local. Any member
\nviolating the provision of this Section shall be
\nsubject to expulsion.”<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
In a Variety article written by Jon Burlingame
\ntitled \u2018Business: \u2028Musicians to tune out AFM union:
\nOver 200 join Professional Musicians Guild\u2019 we
\nfind the following quote:
\nL.A. musicians have placed the American
\nFederation of Musicians on notice: Shape up or
\nface possible decertification as their collective-
\nbargaining agent for film and TV recordings.
\nMore than 200 of the estimated 900 professional
\nmusicians who are most active on film-scoring
\ndates have already joined the new Professional
\nMusicians Guild, according to PMG president
\nAndrew Malloy.<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
It should be obvious to anyone even half-heartedly
\nunbiased that the above quote indicates that the
\nPMG intends to undermine and weaken the interests
\nof the AFM. END OF STORY.<\/p>\n
PMG MEMBERS BEWARE<\/p>\n
Though the above bylaw can most directly be
\napplied to Seattle and those who created the
\nPMG, it seems those PMG members who were
\n\u201casked\u201d or \u201ccajoled\u201d into joining the organization
\nhave set themselves up for some trouble of their
\nown.<\/p>\n
As a member of the PMG they have been
\nput in the position of breaking the same Bylaw
\nand are subject to the same expulsion. <\/p>\n
==============<\/p>\n
III. MORE FUN WITH BYLAWS<\/p>\n
Have you ever read this AFM Bylaw?: <\/p>\n
ARTICLE 10 – Section 20
\nMembers of a Local who demand, request, induce
\nor try to induce other members not to play with or
\nfor any other leaders or members shall be subject
\nto a fine of not more than $100 or to suspension
\nor expulsion.<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
This is the exact description of those who told their
\nfellow Union members not to work on the Simpson\u2019s
\nsessions. Also, it could certainly apply to contractor
\nmembers who would threaten a member with loss
\nof work if they work for anyone else, should that
\nhappen. <\/p>\n
What is the use of having bylaws to protect the integrity
\nof our members and our Federation if Locals can ignore
\nthem with impunity?<\/p>\n
==============<\/p>\n
I.\tNOTICE FROM FMA BRINGS UP HEALTH INSURANCE QUANDRY<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve been told by people at the Local that they
\nthink too many members are qualifying for our
\nLocal\u2019s health insurance, so to mitigate that they
\nexpect the number of hours to qualify to be raised
\nin January, 2009. This same impression is articulated by
\nthe FMAs current offering. They also bring up the
\nnew health insurance options made available to our
\nmembers WITHOUT a qualifying amount of work.
\nPerhaps they even got it from us. Either way it
\nBears a repeat reading and more consideration. <\/p>\n
Should the rise in hours come to pass, our officers
\nshould be looking for MORE options for our members,
\nnot embrace the way to reduce the number of
\nmembers covered. The report in Honolulu gives
\nus three more options, but our officers have not
\nseen fit to inform us of them.<\/p>\n
Below is the FMA\u2019s latest offering:<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Freelance Musicians Assn – L.A.<\/p>\n
Dear Friends:<\/p>\n
The information below describes an exciting
\nnew health plan offered to all AFM Members
\nwithout having to “qualify” for the plan. It
\nwas recently sent to Members by one of our
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
We also recently received a letter from the
\nLocal #47 Health & Welfare Dept, informing
\nMembers that due to a drop in the net worth
\nof our Local’s H&W plan over the past two years,
\nit will undergo a “restructuring,” with new
\nqualifying rates effective Jan 1, 2009. <\/p>\n
This letter declines to state HOW MUCH the
\nH&W plan will be restructured, or what the
\nnew qualifying threshold will be.<\/p>\n
Facts:
\n– For the past two years, #47 Wage Scales
\nhave risen slightly.
\n– However, the qualifying threshold for H&W,
\n$600 worth of individual Member contributions,
\nhas stayed the same.
\n– Therefore, it’s to be expected that since
\nWage Scale percentages have risen, more
\nMembers have qualified for our Health plan
\neach year.<\/p>\n
You would think it is a good thing that more
\nMembers have health insurance! However:<\/p>\n
– The current structure of our H&W requires
\nthat only a small percentage of Members
\nqualify in order to keep the fund solvent.
\nIn other words, many more Members must
\ncontribute to H&W than end up using the plan.
\n– Some Members have healthcare through
\nFilm Music health coverage, and some through
\ntheir spouses’ plans.
\n– But the sad truth is that many Members are
\ncontributing their hard-earned dollars to
\nH&W when they have little or no hope of
\never qualifying. Their money simply helps
\nkeep the plan afloat for others who are
\nworking more.<\/p>\n
– The rates for this new AFM healthcare plan,
\nwhile higher than current H&W rates, would
\nallow every Member to have health insurance.<\/p>\n
We would like to see a meeting at our Local
\nregarding this plan.<\/p>\n
Please read below, and give us your feedback.<\/p>\n
Regards,
\nLisa Haley
\nPresident<\/p>\n
FMA-L\/A.<\/p>\n
———<\/p>\n
Musicians Union HEALTH INSURANCE through the AFM<\/p>\n
At a presentation made in February at the
\nCalifornia Conference meeting in Honolulu
\na reputable health insurance broker
\nannounced the availability of three different
\nhealth insurance plans (HealthNet HMO & PPO,
\nand Kaiser HMO) to ALL CALIFORNIA AFM
\nLOCALS without having to qualify through
\nthe member\u2019s amount of work!<\/p>\n
The meeting was attended by representatives
\nfrom most California Locals, including
\nPresident Espinosa, VP Trombetta and John
\nAcosta.<\/p>\n
In order for a Local to qualify to participate,
\neach must have a minimum of 6 members
\nsubscribe. While the rates of these plans don’t
\nsubstantially differ from those available to
\nmembers publicly from those companies,
\nsome of the co-pays and coverages are
\nsignificantly better. <\/p>\n
YOU CANNOT BE TURNED DOWN FOR A PRE-
\nEXISTING CONDITION<\/p>\n
The biggest advantage is the fact that pre-
\nexisting conditions are covered without
\nquestion (though there is a 6 month waiting
\nperiod for pre-existing condition coverage
\nfor those opting for the PPO plan, unless they
\nhave been covered by a similar plan for 6
\nmonths prior to the date of enrollment).<\/p>\n
Several California Locals are already holding
\ninformational meetings for their members,
\nand many of those Locals report a very
\nstrong interest.<\/p>\n
==============<\/p>\n
IV. TRIVIA \u2013 THE CAN-CAN<\/p>\n
Reports of dances involving high-kicking
\nhave been recorded since ancient times, but
\nthe style reached a notorious peak in the
\nshape of the can-can during the late 19th
\nCentury.<\/p>\n
Ostensibly a hybrid of the polka and the
\nquadrille, the can-can (the word originally
\nmeant \u2018tittle-tattle of a scandalous nature\u2019)
\nwas originally a group dance performed by
\nboth sexes, but it eventually came to be
\ndominated by women who wore exuberant
\ncostumes and showed the flesh above their
\nstockings by kicking their legs high in the
\nair. The dance was deemed immoral and
\nindecent and was outlawed for a number
\nof years, though it still managed to become
\npopular through venues such as the Moulin
\nRouge, gaining extra respectability via French
\noperetta composers.<\/p>\n
==============<\/p>\n
V. Events<\/p>\n
CHRIS WALDEN BIG BAND
\nfeaturing. TIERNEY SUTTON<\/p>\n
Mon, May 12, 8:00pm
\nJAZZ BAKERY in Culver City
\n3233 Helms Ave.
\nLos Angeles, CA 90034
\n(310) 271-9039<\/p>\n
$30 ($15 students)<\/p>\n
=============<\/p>\n
VI. COMMENTS:
\nThe comments below represent the uncensored
\nviews of the readers and not necessarily those
\nof the COMMITTEE. In the faith that freedom of
\nexpression allows for the birth and ascendancy
\nof the most beneficial ideas, all sentiments
\nexpressed are welcome, subject to the bounds
\nof good taste and decorum. If you disagree
\nwith an opinion expressed by any contributor,
\nwe encourage you to rebut it here.<\/p>\n
——————<\/p>\n
Dear Committee, <\/p>\n
The Secretary’s salary is $70,000 from year
\nJanuary 1, 2004. With cost of living wage
\n(COLA) it’s now closer to $75,000.<\/p>\n
————————–<\/p>\n
In response to the comment:<\/p>\n
Who is in this committee? It is always signed:
\nThe Committee Why don’t you all make yourselves
\nbe known if there are so many of you feel this way.<\/p>\n
———————<\/p>\n
From the newsletter:<\/p>\n
Levy said, “we are waiting to elect a new President
\nin Nov who isn’t “Pro-Right To Work.”<\/p>\n
If Attorney Lewis Levy actually said this it is a very
\nbad sign indeed. It demonstrates either a lack of
\nunderstanding of both federalism and stare decisis
\nor a cavalier, adolescent approach to the subject
\nmatter. And it is a further indication of the perverse
\nculture of the current administration.<\/p>\n
“Right to Work” laws are determined by states.
\nThere are currently 22 states with right to work laws.
\nNo president will have the authority to change that.
\nA president can only — through executive order \u2013
\nmake discretionary choices concerning enforcement
\nof certain legal principles. For example, GHW Bush
\nsigned an executive order to enforce Beck; an order
\nBill Clinton cancelled. <\/p>\n
Financial core, as determined in Supreme Court
\ndecisions, is not the same as a state’s right to
\nproscribe union security clauses. A democrat
\nin the White House will not change a musician’s
\nrights under federal law or a union’s legal
\nresponsibilities. For Mr. Levy to suggest otherwise
\nis malpractice. Presumably Mr. Levy thinks that
\nsince CA does not have right to work laws executive
\nnon-enforcement at the federal level (of established
\nlaw concerning fi-core) will give the union more
\npower to decide which legal protections US citizens\/
\nmusicians under its jurisdiction should enjoy and
\nwhich they should be denied. That, and Mr. Levy’s
\nenthusiastic anticipation clearly portends the abuse
\nof said power.<\/p>\n
In fact, the union has a legal obligation to inform
\nits members in a comprehensive way about these
\nlegal matters, an obligation it is not fulfilling.<\/p>\n
And, as was pointed out in the Comm47 newsletter,
\nMr. Levy’s statement is a ridiculous but revealing
\nindication of how these morons approach their
\nresponsibilities. The local’s lawyer responds to
\na member’s comment with a partisan remark
\nabout a pending presidential election? How insulting \u2013
\nand how inappropriate. It shows the contempt the
\nlawyer has for the member and the comment. That’s
\nright — contempt. What is appropriate about the
\nadministration exhibiting disdain toward members?
\n Even if I agreed with this administration on anything
\npolicy-wise, as an educated person I would be troubled
\nby their consistent and demonstrated contempt of people,
\nprocess, propriety, democracy, seriousness and dissent:
\neven for the by-laws they are pledged to protect and
\ndefend and the laws of our country. These people are
\ntemperamentally and intellectually unfit to responsibly
\nexecute their offices. <\/p>\n
Rick Blanc (please attach name)<\/p>\n
———————<\/p>\n
I am not part of The Committee. First, I would like
\nto thank who ever had the balls to send this. I am
\nassuming their comment was not just rhetoric, so
\nI hope to hear more from them. The reference to
\n‘how you feel’ was a nice touch. Now I’ll get down
\nto business…
\n You really think The Committee are a bunch of
\nidiots, don’t you? Why should you even care? What
\npurpose would it serve? Most of the general membership
\ndoes not show up to meetings and do not get involved
\nbecause the union has become little more than an
\naddress book that musicians can be listed in. The
\nunion administration tries to keep the general
\nmembership uninformed and uninvolved. The
\nadministration wants people to pay yearly dues
\nand shut up. So how about coming up with
\nsomething a little more intelligent, instead
\nof whining ‘who are you’. You sound like a clip
\nfrom a Clint Eastwood movie. But thanks for
\nyour comment. Now, respond and tell me why
\nI am wrong. You can speak freely, even if I don’t
\nlike it. By the way, are you a union official or a
\nmember of the RMA?<\/p>\n
-The Green Hornet<\/p>\n
—————-<\/p>\n
Nice AP wire-service story on the back page of
\nTuesday’s 5\/6\/08 “Calendar” section about
\nBulgarian film scoring. Outsourcing Gone Wild!!<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/entertainment\/la-et-outsource6-2008may06,0,5291372.story<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
What is it with the VP and Secretary\u2019s columns?
\nThey sound like bad Stuart Smalley skits from
\nSaturday Night Live.<\/p>\n
Also, we have Leslie Lashinsky printing self love
\nletters in the \u201cletters to the editor\u201d section and Leslie,
\nthe editor, writing letters to the editor, when she\u2019s
\nthe editor herself! This month she takes up more space on
\nthe letter page than anyone else! It\u2019s the \u201cletters to the
\neditor\u201d page, Leslie, not \u201cletters from the editor\u201d.
\nLast month there were no less than three articles written
\nby Leslie PLUS a kiss kiss letter in the letters section.
\nThe month before was almost the same.<\/p>\n
What kind of ego must this woman have! It\u2019s totally
\namateurish and transparent. Perhaps she believes
\nher own press but it\u2019s embarrassing to this member.<\/p>\n
=============<\/p>\n
Colleagues,<\/p>\n
Once again, if you want to become more active
\nin making sure our Local considers ALL the
\nmembership with their choices (Such as informing
\nus of those 3 health insurance options) join the FMA.
\nThe recording musicians have their voice (RMA)
\nand the theater musicians have theirs as well (TMA).
\nIt\u2019s time the freelance musicians built their own voice.<\/p>\n
As we\u2019ve already seen, if you don\u2019t look out for
\nthe rank and file\u2019s representation at our Local,
\nyou lose it.<\/p>\n
Until next time,<\/p>\n
THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PRESIDENT’S COLUMN\/ACCOUNTABILITY\/BYLAWS\/FMA\/TRIVIA\/COMMENTS I. READ PRESIDENT ESPINOSA\u2019S COLUMN THIS MONTH? II. HOLDING OFF ACCOUNTABILITY III. MORE FUN WITH BYLAWS IV. LATEST FMA OFFERING V, TRIVIA VI. COMMENTS ============ GREETINGS COLLEAGUES! I. READ PRESIDENT ESPINOSA\u2019S COLUMN THIS MONTH? President Espinosa has taken up the mantle of RMA mouthpiece again. The majority of his column talks about how […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-committee-newsletters"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=38"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=38"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=38"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=38"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}