LOCAL REACHES NEW LOW / MPS RESPONDS / HELP THE MPS / COMMENTS / EVENTS

8/4/17

I. LOCAL REACHES NEW LOW AGAINST RANK AND FILE
II. MUSICIANS FOR PENSION SECURITY RESPOND

III. HELP THE MUSICIANS FOR PENSION SECURITY
IV. MEMBER COMMENTS
V. EVENTS

…Absolutely guaranteed anonymity – Former Musician’s Union officer

…The one voice of reason in a sea of insanity – Nashville ‘first call’
scoring musician
…Allows us to speak our minds without fear of reprisal – L.A. Symphonic musician

…Reporting issues the Musicians Union doesn’t dare to mention – National touring musician

===========================================

I. LOCAL REACHES NEW LOW AGAINST RANK AND FILE

We’ve received several reports that at a recent non-union
recording session, a recently fired high up employee was
found lurking in the bushes, taking pictures of members
entering the studio.

All those identified were charged $500 for trying to feed their
families, with no union work to be had.

BUT WAIT,

The Local decided to hold the $500 charge over their heads,
telling them that it will not be pressed UNLESS they are
caught again.

So, the Local is now targeting rank and file for trying to pay
their bills, unless you’re in the upper echelon of course, and
threatening them with further targeting.

If the Local spent half the time and effort they spend
on targeting rank and file members trying to create
world competitive contracts  much of the nonunion
work would be unnecessary.

As long as the RMA runs things, that won’t happen.

Many RMA members do the nonunion work at the same
rate as the rank and file, but because of their positions
never face the targeting.

Corruption is as corruption does.

===========================================

II. MUSICIANS FOR PENSION SECURITY RESPOND.

Musicians for Pension Security respond to the lawsuit
filed against the AFM-EPF trustees and Fund Administrator
Dear Plan Participants,

A class action lawsuit was recently filed against the trustees of the AFM-
EPF. The central allegation is that Fund trustees failed to properly oversee
the investment functions of our plan. In particular, it claims they directed
too much plan money into emerging market stocks, and as a result, the
investment returns were lower than if they were invested in US stocks.

Musicians for Pension Security did not file this lawsuit.

It was initiated by two AFM-EPF members who are not affiliated with
our organization. MPS applauds any effort to hold plan trustees
accountable for their performance and transparency failures.
However, the litigation process could take years to unfold, and
during this time the trustees will be deciding the fate of our plan.
In the next few years, they will determine if the plan will move into
critical and declining status, and whether or not to file an application
to the US Treasury for cuts to our pension benefits. We cannot
let the lawsuit distract us from the key task of protecting our
pension benefits.

MPS believes that the lawsuit, if successful, would only recover
approximately 1% of plan assets. In all likelihood our trustees
have an insurance policy insulating them from possible litigation,
and in general, these policies provide somewhere between
$20-$40 million of protection. After deducting attorneys’ fees,
we believe that at most only approximately $20 million could
be recovered. This equates to less than 1% of plan assets,
or about $400 per participant.

While holding AFM-EPF trustees accountable is laudable,
MPS remains focused on how plan participants can have a
greater influence right now. We have retained our own
independent actuary to provide a second opinion concerning
the finances of our fund. MPS will continue to engage with
policymakers in Washington to find solutions in plan
participants’ best interests. Through grassroots efforts,
we can unite and work together to protect the pension
benefits of all plan participants.

Sincerely,
Musicians for Pension Security
Adam Krauthamer
Marilyn Coyne
Jon Kantor
Anja Wood
Pete Donovan
Elise Frawley
Sylvia D’Avanzo and
Carol Zeavin

=========================================

III. HELP THE MUSICIANS FOR PENSION SECURITY

Dear Plan Participants,
Musicians For Pension Security, Inc. (MPS), is a nonprofit
group managed and supported by AFM union members
across the country who are deeply concerned with the
current state of our AFM-EPF Pension Plan. Our purpose
is to fully understand how our plan became so troubled,
and to hold our trustees and their advisers fully
accountable. Further, we demand more transparency
from our trustees and to seek solutions to our current
dilemma other than cutting our hard-earned pension
benefits.

MPS believes that without plan participants’ active
involvement, the trustees of AFM-EPF Plan will most
likely move to cut our pension benefits within the
next few years. Therefore, this year will be pivotal
in our fight for pension security, and we at MPS are
planning a number of initiatives to support YOU,
the plan participant.

To do this, we will need your financial support. We
ask that you join us and please donate! Your
contribution is critical in helping us work toward a
sustainable, long-term plan for pension security,
and enables us to continue fighting on behalf of
all AFM-EPF plan participants. Right now, we
have launched an important fundraising campaign,
and need to raise $15K by September.

Read more about that here.

To donate:
http://tinyurl.com/ybbeo3am

Please help spread the word!

=======================================

IV. MEMBER COMMENTS

Latest email blast from the RMALA gives a “thank you”
for Gordon Grayson’s “straight shooting” service and
wishes him the best in his future endeavors.

HE WAS FIRED FOR DOING THEIR DIRTY WORK….BADLY!
We are surprised that they would so openly flaunt
their connection with Gordon.

[EC: We’ve never recall the RMA thanking any mere employee
in a blast individually in public after leaving the local’s employ,
particularly if they were fired.
Not Barbara Markay, nor Serena Williams, nor Dave Schubach,
nor Hal Espinosa, nor Vince Trombetta, nor Doug Caine, nor
Amie Moore, nor Jeff Surga… We could be wrong, but we doubt it.

Now we know why.

We heard the same, the fired employee would target whomever
The RMA leadership wanted. Explains a lot really. We can’t help
but wonder if a local officer knew about it,… or helped direct it.

More on this soon.]

————

the name of the gentleman in charge of the Musicians for
Pension Security group is Adam Krauthamer, his phone
# is 215 280 5958, and he would like to hear from any
Local 47 pensioners who do NOT want their monthly
pension checks cut. glad i’m over 80 so they cannot
cut mine.

===========================================

V. EVENTS
DEAN AND RICHARD
are now at Culver City Elks the first 
Friday of 
every month.
7:30pm-10:30pm,
11160 Washington Pl.
Culver City, 90232
310-839-8891
————————————-
LA WINDS JAZZ KATS 584
NO COVER, NO MINIMUM.
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at
Viva Cantina
7:30-10:00.
900 Riverside Drive, 
Burbank.

Free parking across the street at Pickwick Bowl.
Come hear your favorite charts played the way
they 
should 
be. 

We are in the back room called
the Trailside Room. 


Come on down.

Guaranteed to swing.

http://www.responsible47.com

—————————————-

8/6/16

Dearest Friends of Music and the Arts –

Please join us for a very special concert entitled,
“French Color: Debussy and Ravel”
Sunday, August 6, 2017 – 7:30 PM at
COLLIER HOUSE – Woodland Hills.

The program will celebrate two masters of
French musical impressionism, Claude Debussy
and Maurice Ravel.

Through solo piano, accompanied voice, and
ensemble pieces, you’ll experience the
mesmerizing color and precise musical
invention of these two great composers.

The Malibu Coast String Quartet
(Maria Newman & Rafael Rishik, violinists;
Scott Hosfeld, violist; and
Paula Hochhalter, cellist)

will join rising stars bass-baritone
Matthew Lewis, and pianist
Jiye Hayden, in an exquisite evening
of color and grace.

Doors open at 7:00 pm ~ Refreshments will be served
Concert begins at 7:30 pm

TICKETS: $25 Buy Now / $30 At The Door / Under 18 Free
Make Your Reservation ~ (818) 304 – 4020
PROGRAM: (approx. 1.5 hours)
Debussy  ~ Music for Solo Piano: Clair de Lune & Arabesque #1
Debussy ~ French Songs: Romance & Les Cloches
Ravel ~ French Songs: Sainte & Five Greek Songs
Ravel ~ String Quartet in F Major
Ravel ~ Piece en forme de Habanera
Faure ~ Apres un reve
Maria Newman ~ Le petit duel
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Collier House/Paula Hochhalter at (818) 304 – 4020

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47

2 Responses to “LOCAL REACHES NEW LOW / MPS RESPONDS / HELP THE MPS / COMMENTS / EVENTS”

  1. Anonymous says:

    So Gordon Grayson was hiding in the bushes?

  2. Buell Neidlinger says:

    No results found for http://www.AFMPensionPerspectives.com.
    which is too bad, as i understand these two guys have a lot to offer

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