* AFTRA calls it SALTING, but it’s more like SCABBING !!

This is a post relating to an unconscionable practice currently being imposed on AFTRA’s membership by the current leadership.

We’re hearing the charge of scabbing from a group of sackheads,

related to the NFL 33 years ago. What were not hearing a lot about, is a form of scabbing called salting, that is going on NOW at AFTRA.

“AFTRA practices the common union tactic of “salting,” and says, “Take the gig and see if we can get a foot on the door.” My agent got a call from Fox Sports a few years back and whispered, “It’s non-union.” I called AFTRA, and our veteran B.A./organizer (now with the WGA) advised me, “I’ve been trying to organize them for months! Take the gig, fax me the scripts, get me the names of your producers, and let’s see if we can take it union.”

Board Poster and AFTRA Board member David Browde admits to “salting” CNN over a quarter of century ago when he worked there as a non-union broadcaster. Apparently that bit of salting didn’t pay-off, except to Mr. Browde, who I assume salted away a little from the gig, since CNN is still non-union, as are the rest of the cable news networks being salted by AFTRA broadcasters.

When queried about the discrepancy between AFTRA’s so called “salting” tactic and what is stated on the back of the AFTRA card, Hollywood President Ron Morgan stated

“As you know the ‘No Contract No Work’ rule at AFTRA is related to scripted entertainment.”

Hmmm, now I don’t know about you, but I must have gotten a bogus card ‘cause mine don’t mention nothin’ about that “No Contract No Work” rule. Or for that matter anything about taking the gig to get my foot in the door. In fact it’s pretty explicit! It says *Do not work for non-signatory producers”

And there is nothin’ in there, no caveat about the “No Contract No Work” rule that only applies to scripted entertainment!

Of course, this is just another way that AFTRA Leadership is using actors, and screwing them in the process. They go about salting all these non-union jobs, and in the process salting away lots of extra cash for themselves, while demanding that actors and the rank and file AFTRA members “Do not work for non-signatory producers.”

For AFTRA’s leadership to order the rank and file to abstain from non-union work, while they sneak behind their backs and work non-union in the guise of salting, is the worst kind of SCABBING.

UNION SANCTIONED SCABBING FOR THE PRIVILEGED LEADERSHIP

Yes, there is a scabbing problem, but it ain’t at SAG, and it ain’t confined to employee’s, but rather at AFTRA where elected board members abuse the rules, rules that apparently apply to the general membership but not to them.

Perhaps, we can get Roberta Reardon, who as AFTRA’s president, is their High Priestess of Salting/Scabbing to explain to AFTRA’s membership why the back of the card says one thing, while the elected leadership, and those in the know, are allowed to do another.

Come on gang, if this salting is such a good deal, why not let the entire AFTRA membership in on it, by putting on the back of the card that part about taking the gig to get the Ol' foot in the door?