The Meeting on April 28th, other notes from the meeting, building a Member’s Party, trivia, comments and more.
\n
\nI. THE MEETING ON APRIL 28th
\nII. OTHER NOTES FROM THE MEETING
\nIII. BUILDING A MEMBERS\u2019 PARTY
\nIV. TRIVIA
\nV. COMMENTS<\/p>\n
============<\/p>\n
GREETINGS COLLEAGUES!<\/p>\n
I. THE MEETING ON APRIL 28th
\nOur recent general membership meeting showed that Democracy
\nis alive and well in our Local. Far, far more alive than when the
\nCOMMITTEE was formed (We hadn\u2019t had meetings in over 2 years).
\nIt also showed that whoever has the bodies has the votes. This is
\nnot unique and every organization can say the same, as long as
\nits the MEMBERS who make the decisions and not the board,
\nwe\u2019re far more satisfied.<\/p>\n
Though the outcomes are sometimes not what we would like, the
\npoint here is that at least its the MEMBERS making the choice at a
\nmeeting and not a compliant board acting as an agent for a special
\ninterest group. At least it is REAL Democracy, and we thank the
\nmembers who came for showing up and taking part.<\/p>\n
The election board, as always, did a superior job. Long time
\nelection board members Michele Byrne, Ernie Ehrhardt and
\nLuz Brisano, and Len Bergentino were unseated, having been
\nunder fire and harassed by the Executive Board for some time.
\nWhy? Because they would do their job in a non-partisan fashion,
\nfollow the bylaws and not let themselves be bullied by the
\nBoard or anyone else.<\/p>\n
Now, we have an election board that includes people who have
\nshown honesty and integrity (Marcy Vaj and Brian O\u2019Connor)
\nand the remainder being unknown. We will keep a close eye on
\nthem and try to make sure no undue pressure is placed on them
\nby the board and\/or the counsel.<\/p>\n
THE PART MOST WORTHY OF REPEATING<\/p>\n
When Michelle Byrne gave her 3+ minute speech for the
\nElection Committee election, she choose to expose just some
\nof the attacks her career has suffered at the hands of the present
\nadministration. She shared in great detail what has happened to
\nher career, the frivolous charges filed against her by the Local,
\nthe harassment at her jobs, the loss of work, in her estimation
\npartly because of her activism and daring to speak up.
\nWe hope she will commit her experiences to writing and allow
\nus to share them with you, giving the Espinosa Administration
\na chance to respond.<\/p>\n
We also want to know of anyone else\u2019s stories of harassment
\nby our Local.<\/p>\n
==============<\/p>\n
II. OTHER NOTES FROM THE MEETING<\/p>\n
Below are some of our observations of the meeting. First however,
\nwe want to share an excerpt of the FMA mailing about the meeting.
\nSo as not to cover the same ground twice, where necessary we
\nwill interject our thoughts in Brackets [].<\/p>\n
General Meeting notes from the FMA:<\/p>\n
– President Hal Espinosa told us there will be an elevator added
\nto the back of the auditorium during the upcoming remodel, to
\naccommodate those who have trouble negotiating the stairs to
\nthe Musicians Credit Union.<\/p>\n
—-<\/p>\n
– When it was Secretary Leslie’s turn to give a report, she quietly
\nsaid she didn’t have one!<\/p>\n
A Member stood and asked Leslie why she had no Secretary’s Report, when
\nBylaws state there MUST be a Secretary’s Report at a General Meeting.
\nLeslie gave a 20-second report. A lot of Members were grumbling.<\/p>\n
Perhaps it is time that we all call for Leslie to do the job we are paying
\nher to do, instead of allowing her continuing performance schedule to
\nprevent her from fulfilling her oath to serve the Members.<\/p>\n
If Leslie wants to continue to make a living performing, we can all relate
\nto that and we wish her well in it.<\/p>\n
But Secretary\/Treasurer is a full-time, $50,000 a year job. She can’t realistically
\ncontinue to give us a part-time effort. Leslie should give us our money’s worth,
\nor step down and let someone else do so!<\/p>\n
[We could not agree more. Her only possible argument for continuing to work
\nso much is that while she is the Secretary, she is only Secretary until the
\nDecember election, at which point she may lose the position. Still, with the
\nmoney she is now being paid by our Local from our dues and considering how
\nmany players that are out there trying to make a living as a bassoonist,
\nshe could at least take a leave from some of these jobs until the election.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s being paid handsomely for her work at the Local. If she wants to be the
\nSecretary part-time, her salary should be adjusted accordingly.]<\/p>\n
—-<\/p>\n
In Hal’s report, he stated:
\n“This is a multi-million dollar business that we’re running.” He described
\nhow the negotiations w\/Pasadena Pops were done.<\/p>\n
[All the more reason for a real Secretary\/Treasurer report four times a
\nYEAR at our meetings!]<\/p>\n
—-<\/p>\n
A Member asked how to get the #47 Financial Report.
\nSecretary Leslie said it was printed in the Overture. He asked about the
\nFULL report.
\nShe stated “all he had to do was ask for it.”<\/p>\n
Another Member got up and stated that the past four years in a row, the
\nFMA-L.A. had asked for this report, and that:
\n– first the Secretary claimed it didn’t exist,
\n– then she said she didn’t have to give it to us,
\n– then we went to a EB meeting and quoted Bylaws,
\n– then she finally made us come into the building to pick it up.<\/p>\n
[Two different Secretaries, same games. Who was counseling them on the
\nactions to take?… and whomever they are, don\u2019t WE pay their salary?]<\/p>\n
This Member advised the other Member that when he asked for the full
\nFinancials, he should have the Bylaws in hand.<\/p>\n
President Hal then stated, “We thought you wanted sensitive information,
\nwhich we could not give you. When we realized you just wanted the report,
\nwe gave it to you.”<\/p>\n
The Member replied, “That would have been a reasonable concern for year one.
\nBut why did you continue to resist complying with Members’ requests (and the
\nBylaws) in years two, three and four?”<\/p>\n
[Bingo. For the past four years, member Charles Fernandez tells
\nus, he has had to go through five or six email exchanges,
\nultimately having to threaten charges against whomever has
\nbeen in the Secretary\u2019s office to get the full report. The only
\nexception was this year, because Mr. Fernandez preemptively
\ntold Secretary Lashinsky that if he got any delaying tactics at all,
\nhe would file charges immediately. He got the report.]<\/p>\n
——<\/p>\n
A Member stated that there are two lawsuits in progress:<\/p>\n
– Fi-Core lawsuit (Attorney Lewis Levy interjected that it
\nwasn’t a lawsuit, it was “under advisement.”)<\/p>\n
– A Class action suit also brought by Fi-Core musicians – SRB
\nhas it “under advisement.”<\/p>\n
Levy said, “we are waiting to elect a new President in Nov who i
\nsn’t “Pro-Right To Work.”<\/p>\n
[Is our counsel really saying he\u2019s delaying lawsuits because he hopes a new US
\nPresident will improve the Local\u2019s chances of getting away with their actions?
\nIf the next president is \u201cPro-Right to Work\u201d, will they delay another four years?
\nWhat an absurd thing for him to say. Once again we fine the counsel insulting
\nthe intelligence of the membership.]<\/p>\n
If our Local #47 officials had the negotiating and leadership skills to
\nstrike a realistic, 21st Century deal with such entities as Video producers
\nand New Era Scoring, instead of clinging to the hope that all the “runaway
\nproduction” is somehow going to come back, we wouldn’t have any Fi-Core
\nmusicians at present.<\/p>\n
[Lest anyone forget, fi-core musicians pay approx. 87% of the dues we members
\npay. And as the FMA points out above, if this administration were looking out
\nfor the interests of all the members, there would have been no need for most of
\nthose former AFM members to go fi-core. The Espinosa Administration\u2019s shoddy
\ntreatment of the rank and file caused the exodus to begin with, and now they try to
\nblame others for it? Nice\u2026]<\/p>\n
We noticed several Members who re-joined our Local for the General Meeting.
\nThank you for returning, and let’s work together to get everyone working!<\/p>\n
Regards,
\nFMA-L.A.<\/p>\n
[This report was complete, and Bravo to the FMA for making it such a
\ncandid one. We only want to add that the name of the Referral Service
\nCommittee was changed to the Referral Service Taskforce but no change was
\nmade to the duties of the group, so why was the name change? ]<\/p>\n
============<\/p>\n
III. BUILDING A MEMBERS\u2019 PARTY<\/p>\n
A recent comment to the COMMITTEE read in part:
\nCan we all – (woops – did I say that? -never going to be all)
\ncan the concerned people ready to make a positive change
\nin their careers with ideas to bring back work start meeting??<\/p>\n
The rank and file already have an organization that is established
\nand recognized, the Freelance Musicians Association! This
\nshould be our vehicle to unite and continue protecting our interests.
\nIn Local 802, they have TWO members\u2019 parties. The FMA can
\ncertainly serve this purpose for Local 47, but you need to get
\ninvolved.
\nContact the FMA at lisa@bluefiddle.com, join up, and make
\na difference!<\/p>\n
==============<\/p>\n
IV. TRIVIA: The \u2018Catalogue\u2019 Aria<\/p>\n
The \u2018Catalogue\u2019 aria is the nickname given to Leporella\u2019s
\naria in Act 1, Scene 2 of Mozart\u2019s \u2018Don Giovanni\u2019, in which
\nhe recounts a list of Don Giovanni\u2019s sexual conquests.<\/p>\n
They are\u2026
\nItaly \u2013 640
\nGermany \u2013 231
\nFrance \u2013 100
\nTurkey \u2013 91
\nSpain \u2013 1,003<\/p>\n
Total \u2013 2,065<\/p>\n
==============<\/p>\n
V. COMMENTS:
\nThe comments below represent the uncensored views of the readers
\nand not necessarily those of the COMMITTEE. In the faith that
\nfreedom of expression allows for the birth and ascendancy of the
\nmost beneficial ideas, all sentiments expressed are welcome, subject
\nto the bounds of good taste and decorum. If you disagree with an
\nopinion expressed by any contributor, we encourage you to rebut it here.<\/p>\n
——————<\/p>\n
Again, the Espinosa Administration has shown it is a disgrace. And
\ncowards. Three RMA members file a highly questionable lawsuit \u2013
\nwith the potential of it becoming a class action suit — against the AFM,
\nand the Espinosa Administration’s response? Interpleading. Nominal
\n“neutrality” on this issue in fact inures to the benefit of the plaintiffs.
\nThis is a betrayal.
\nThis lawsuit is a threat to the stability of the AFM making Local 47’s
\ncraven response an abdication of its fiduciary responsibility to its
\nmembership. This should not be acceptable to anyone.
\nAnd it is intellectually dishonest. The Espinosa Administration is,
\nas usual, representing RMA interests, and I suspect it is privately
\nhappy about this lawsuit due to its resentments and antipathy toward
\nthe national AFM. So how does Local 47’s response serve its non-
\nRMA rank-and-file? It doesn’t. The opposite is true; you are being
\nused.
\nAnd how to explain the complacency of the rank-and-file except to
\npoint out what is increasingly apparent? The membership is either
\nout of touch, incapable of critical thinking, or so habitually sycophantic
\nthat it has lost its ability to be anything other than drones. How do
\nyou all like the emperor’s new clothes?
\nSo which is the larger calamity, an administration that betrays its own
\nmembers or a membership that tolerates it?
\nRick Blanc (please attach name)<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
I thought all those nice things people said about Paul are only
\nsaved for a eulogy. You know where the rules say “never speak
\nill of the dead”. Wow I cannot believe the poetic waxing.<\/p>\n
As for those people that sit in the ivory tower with Paul…..they
\nAlready know what kind of person he is, and when they protest,
\n(when he turns on them), he will look at them and say…”Hey,
\nyou knew who I was when you picked me up!!”<\/p>\n
I also overheard a board member saying that “You will never win”
\nBecause you don’t have the votes. Further, that THEY ARE THE
\nMUSIC BUSINESS. By implication, THEY have decided that
\nunless we are THEM, we are not in the Music Business. Evidently,
\nthey believe that any contribution by the FMA, is by default
\nsomehow (potentially) taking away from them. It is only a few
\nleading that flock, and only a minority of RMA members even
\nknow what is going on. Case in point, someone sitting behind me
\nasked, what we were here to vote on, and how long did she have to
\nstay?<\/p>\n
This Union has a duty of fair representation. I would argue that
\nunder the current conditions, that fair representation is impossible
\ndue to the domination of one group and the lack of will and backbone
\nby our Elected officers to do their duty. It really is time to investigate
\ngetting some federal oversight into our Union. Lewis will need to be
\nholding onto his B****.<\/p>\n
We have had nothing but lip service for the RS for the last
\nSeveral years. Still, nothing is viable there. Thousands of dollars
\nand excuses and years later, and all we get is that it is a work in
\nprogress. Now they want a LED sign outside the building. Yikes.
\nI suppose Marc will be the SignMeister on this effort too!<\/p>\n
————<\/p>\n
In every other Union or Guild organization I belong to, voting
\nis done by a mailed ballot to full membership along with a return
\npre-addressed envelope to an independent auditor. Why is this
\nnot done by Local 47 for their elections? It would increase and
\nencourage voter participation as many simply cannot show up in
\nperson for personal or professional reasons, and it would ensure
\na vote that is free from tampering. It is precisely why all other
\nentertainment guilds and trade unions conduct their elections
\nin this manner. Why is it that I don’t trust a process where I simply
\nput a piece of paper in a cardboard box without much oversight or
\naccountability?<\/p>\n
The fact that a Local 47 election is local vs. national would make
\nsuch a process even simpler, one would think. As is done with
\nother Unions, candidates could include individual picture\/bio\/
\ncandidate statements with the mailed ballots to help members
\nmake an informed choice. Or would our Local whine about postage
\nand auditor expenses, as a prohibitive excuse? If not a mail-in vote,
\nwhy not alternatively offer at least a no-overhead internet voting
\noption that could still be independently processed? I’m sure I’m
\nnot the first member who has made suggestions of this sort.<\/p>\n
But elections are only representative of a larger problem I see with
\nour Union. Why is it that in so many aspects, the Union I pay the
\nhighest annual dues to delivers the lowest amount of quality and
\nservice? For instance, just look at the antiquated ratty old newspaper
\nthey offer up as a suitable format for membership communication,
\ncompared against the nicely bound, high quality well-published
\nmagazines offered by their sister unions. That may seem trivial
\nto some, but we should not underestimate a Union publication’s
\nprofound importance on industry perception. Other Unions recognize
\nthat the image a Union\/Guild\/Society presents to the public and to
\ntheir membership has a direct correlation to active and proactive
\nmembership participation and pride taken in their Union. For
\nmost members, the publication is the only face of the Union, and
\nmost certainly to those in the industry outside of the Union. So
\nwhen they see how K-Mart the Union operates, it undermines the
\nUnion’s respectability throughout the industry, looks weak, and
\nbears an influence on its credibility and power to negotiate.
\nI’d sooner prefer the Union put out something more serious,
\nclassier, and nicer-looking, color photos, etc. only as a quarterly,
\n(whether nationally or locally).<\/p>\n
As it is, the publication is frankly not only an aesthetic
\nembarrassment, but also in much of its content. I don’t know
\nany other trade union\/guild publication that feels the need to
\npublish the rather mundane procedural minutes of their meetings,
\ncomplete with the public humiliation of exposing members who’ve
\nlet work dues lapse, who’s getting fined, suspended, or otherwise.
\nI also find some of these continual columns about “how to behave
\non gigs”, or “how to hustle for jobs” somewhat belittling of it’s
\nreadership, who are, after all, supposedly professionals, and not
\nneophytes who need to have their hand held like a child. It only
\nperpetuates the perception that musicians are basically dumb and
\nshiftless, and just like to “bang on de drums all day.”<\/p>\n
Sorry. I didn’t plan on this turning into a whole diatribe. But
\nwhenever I see these election results, it just makes our Union
\nfeel like one big joke. How can this Union really be taken
\nseriously with such a lack of innovative business structure,
\npoor image, and apathetic membership, due to what I see as
\nmisplaced priorities by our leadership? I realize I preach to
\nthe choir, but thanks for indulging me. You may forward this
\nto other members if you like.<\/p>\n
————<\/p>\n
To the Committee,<\/p>\n
On Monday, May 5th I will be attending a hearing at our Local.
\nSince September, 2007 I have been trying to get a copy of a letter
\nread in an open board meeting on August 15, 2006 written by
\nPaul Castillo concerning comments made by VP Trombetta at
\nthe July, 2006 membership meeting.<\/p>\n
Secretary Lashinsky has steadfastly refused the request. The
\nSecretary has been so intractable that I was forced to file
\ncharges against her. Thus, the hearing is this Monday.<\/p>\n
It is a matter of principal. Doing the right thing is not that hard,
\nyet these officers continue to prefer to fight perfectly appropriate
\nrequests rather than follow the bylaws, as anyone who has requested
\nthe full auditor\u2019s financial report can attest.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the real issue here? Getting our administration to obey
\nthe bylaws.<\/p>\n
I will forward the results to the committee so they can inform
\nyou if they like.<\/p>\n
Fraternally,
\nCharles Fernandez
\nLocal 47 Member since 1983<\/p>\n
—————<\/p>\n
My Dear Colleagues,<\/p>\n
In the AFM, we are a UNION. We are supposed to disagree
\non many of these issues that are on the table in LA. Plus, we
\nare supposed to argue and have different opinions and fight
\nfor what we believe in. But, we also know enough to show
\nrespect to those who have differing opinions and are willing
\nto stand up for what they believe. That is true democracy!<\/p>\n
As a union, we must agree to follow our bylaws or change
\nthem. Period. No grey areas accept where the state or fed
\nlaws require it\u2026ie right to work issues. Unfortunately for
\nthose who disagree, we can not pick and choose the bylaws
\nthat we will decide to uphold. That is selfish, against the
\nunions best interest and ultimately leads to anarchy.<\/p>\n
Although we live in a country that is supposed to support
\nthe idea of workers protection and unionism, our fine
\nUS government is allowing the businesses of our country
\nand, in fact, the corporations of the world to steam roll
\nour rights as workers and union members. Thereby, we are
\nleft to try to pick up the pieces of a broadcast and recording
\nindustry that lives by vastly different laws in different
\ncountries and tries to make absurd profits on the backs of
\nthe creative talent that provides for the very entertainment
\nthey sell!<\/p>\n
Oh aren’t all these business interests happy campers to
\nhear what divisiveness they have CREATED in the unions.
\nWith their constant search for higher profits for their board
\nmembers stocks, race to the bottom for wages and sacrifice
\nof quality for that mighty profit margin, how could they
\nsupport the ‘workers’ right to a fair days wage for a fair days
\nwork!!!<\/p>\n
We have to be smart enough to realize that we are standing
\nin a circle and shooting at a target in the middle that is constantly
\nmoving out of the way and leaving our valuable colleagues as
\nthe actual targets! Otherwise, we will kill off the very membership
\nthat makes us so strong and successful in the first place.<\/p>\n
My2cents,
\nRichard Sparrow<\/p>\n
—————-<\/p>\n
[Concerning the title of our mailing on the results of
\nApril 28th\u2019s elections]<\/p>\n
April, I think, not October.<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
from the net:
\nIn a class action for money damages, lawyers who represent the
\nclass are generally paid out of the money that’s recovered – called
\na “common fund” – for the people they are representing. In class
\nactions involving declaratory judgments or injunctive relief, lawyers
\nmay be paid by the people who hired them, or in some cases, by the
\npeople or companies they are suing.<\/p>\n
Attorney’s fee awards are subject to court review and approval.
\nOrdinarily, if an award is made in a common fund case, it will
\nbe awarded as a percentage of the total money available for the
\nclass. A benchmark award generally accepted by the courts is
\napproximately 25 percent of the total, although the award may
\nbe adjusted higher or lower, depending on the specific facts of
\na case.<\/p>\n
—————-<\/p>\n
At the recent meeting, Marcy Vaj shocked me by making a Motion
\nright at the end of the meeting that the Member Services Committee
\nbe renamed ‘ Referral Service Taskforce.’The reason? She is
\npersonally tired of having to deal with the Referral Service plus the
\nCD&Radio Airplay Dept, etc. and wants only to deal with the RS.
\nIf she feels that way, she should step down from the Chair and
\nlet someone more enthusiastic have a turn!<\/p>\n
————<\/p>\n
Who is in this committee? It is always signed: The Committee
\nWhy don’t you all make yourselves be known if there are so
\nmany of you feel this way.<\/p>\n
————–<\/p>\n
\u201cFYI, you need to sign in now to see the Overture online. You
\ndidn’t previously to have to do that. Maybe the committee can
\nhave .pdf versions available to email upon request, for those
\nthat no longer have access.\u201d<\/p>\n
There is nothing strange about having to sign in to see a newspaper
\nthat is for members only. Why join if you can get it for free. It’s a
\nbenefit of membership. All memberships are done like this. Do you
\npeople not have a life other than these insane response e-mails. Why
\ndon’t you just drop out of the union, if you think it is so bad.<\/p>\n
=============<\/p>\n
Colleagues,<\/p>\n
It is time the rank and file become more formally organized.
\nPlease contact the FMA and get involved!<\/p>\n
Until next time,<\/p>\n
THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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