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July 2011

Reardon re-elected as AFTRA prexy!

Posted: Sun., Jul. 24, 2011, 8:50am PT

Reardon re-elected as AFTRA prexy

Thesp pledges to move toward merger with SAG

Roberta Reardon has been unanimously elected to a third two-year term as president of the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists — and has reiterated her pledge to press forward on merger with the Screen Actors Guild.AFTRA made the announcement early Sunday at the conclusion of the performers union’s convention in Seattle. Reardon’s been elected by acclamation for all three of her terms.

“AFTRA members look at the landscape of our industries and we see the tides of change rolling in: we understand that companies have consolidated their power, and that we face corporations who have learned that diversification is the key to their success,” she said. “We know that union members need more power to deal with these international giants, more power as we face the digital era that is fast upon us and more power as we struggle with increasing demands of a work world that has become more unorganized as it grows. AFTRA members believe that one of the best ways to grow that power is to do what we have always done in the face of adversity: lock arms and stand together.”

The New York-based thesp began her career performing in daytime dramas and has since appeared in hundreds of commercials, as well as doing TV voiceover work, radio commercials, industrial films and narration.

SAG president Ken Howard is running for a second two-year term and facing opposition only from darkhorse candidate David Hillberg. Reardon and Howard have made merger the signature issue of their tenures — and are now heading the official push to craft a proposal for submission to the national boards by the end of January.

Reardon and Howard headed series of more than 20 “listening tour” meetings to meet with members earlier this year, journeying to Atlanta, Chicago, L.A., New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., among other cities. The unions held their first official meeting last month to start hammering out a merger proposal and set a second meet for late August in N.Y. — though they still haven’t sorted out such thorny issues as the name of the combined union, dues structure and governance

Over 60% of those voting in both unions must approve for the merger to go through. Merger attempts in 1999 and 2003 were voted down by SAG members amid concerns about SAG losing its identity as an actors union and difficulties in merging the two org’s health and pension funds.

Convention delegates passed a resolution affirming “commitment to the process of uniting AFTRA and SAG.”

Merger proponents have contended SAG and AFTRA need to merge for a variety of reasons — improving bargaining power at a time when unions are under attack, resolving jurisdictional overlaps and operating more efficiently. Opponents such as former SAG president Alan Rosenberg have contended that the current merger push is aimed at making SAG less likely to threaten a work stoppage (Daily Variety, July 16).

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth H. Shuler addressed the convention to congratulate AFTRA on organizing efforts. AFL-CIO execs attended last month’s merger meeting and have long asserted that unions need to combine forces via merger.

AFTRA National Executive Director Kim Roberts Hedgpeth indicated that should the SAG-AFTRA combo go through, it would set the stage for more mergers with other showbiz unions.

“I’m the daughter of two performers, both of whom were members of multiple unions, so I’ve always recognized that it was smart to combine AFTRA and SAG – as a start,” Hedgpeth said. “I hope that this time, the third time, will finally be the charm.”

She also cited research for the Albert Shanker Institute showing union density in the private and public work sectors in America has declined from 29.3% in 1964 to 12.6% in 2004 — with a projection, if current trends continue, to drop to 8.5% in 2014.

“We must learn to speak the language that appeals to a younger generation to erase their antipathy to unions and educate them why being union matters,” Hedgpeth said. “We have no choice but to mobilize the relevant talent pool, whether they be our own members or non-union workers, lest we give employers an escape valve by which to erode the standards our members have fought for in their collective bargaining agreements.”

She also reported AFTRA’s recovered nearly $24 million for members in the past two years as the result of claims grievances, arbitrations, legal proceedings or negotiated settlements.

Delegates also re-elected National First VP Bob Edwards and tapped Gabrielle Carteris as National Second VP. National Vice Presidents re-elected were Denny Delk, Holter Graham, Bob Butler, Catherine Brown and Jim Ferguson while Denis Berkfeldt was elected as a new VP. Matt Kimbrough was re-elected treasurer and Lainie Cooke was re-elected recording secretary.

AFTRA also presented the George Heller Memorial Gold Card to Delk and Reardon’s predecessor John Connolly.

Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

 

Hillberg to run for SAG prexy

Hillberg to run for SAG prexy

Thesp provides competition for Ken Howard
By Dave McNary

Ken Howard will not be running unopposed for a second term as president of the Screen Actors Guild with independent David Hillberg making a run for the top slot.

“I admit that I’m a dark horse but I feel obligated to provide an opposing voice,” Hillberg told Variety on Sunday prior to the Annual Hollywood Division Membership meeting at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City.

Hilberg received 902 votes as a candidate for a national board seat in last fall’s election, the fewest of the 76 candidates in a contest which saw Howard’s ruling Unite for Strength faction dominate over the Membership First faction — which recently opted not to run a candidate to oppose Howard’s re-election bid (Daily Variety, July 15). Other independent candidates could emerge with by the Thursday deadline for submitting petitions.

Hillberg’s a 10-year SAG member who joined the union by doing a Subway spot, following a career in law enforcement. His credits include “The Aviator” and the low-budget “Hangar Rats,” which he directed and produced.

Hillberg’s generally in accord with the positions of the self-styled progressives of Membership First and criticized SAG’s current leadership for failing to negotiate more aggressively last fall on the successor contract for features and primetime — particularly on new media provisions. “The leadership isn’t looking at the bigger picture on new media,” he added.

Hillberg also said SAG and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists need to clarify jurisdiction over primetime series before moving ahead on merger. The longstanding agreement has been that SAG reps all projects shot on film, while SAG and AFTRA have an equal shot at projects shot electronically but with more primetime skeins shot in high-definition digital formats, AFTRA’s electronic purview has greatly expanded over the past three years.

Unite for Strength’s signature issue has been merger — touted as the best way to resolve jurisdictional overlaps and give actors more power. SAG and AFTRA leaders have started hammering out details and a member vote could take place by this time next year by the 120,000 members of SAG and the 70,000 members of AFTRA — with 45,000 members belonging to both.

Approval requires a 60% super-majority from those voting in both unions. SAG members rebuffed similar efforts in 1998 and 2003 amid concerns that a merger would cause SAG to lose its unique character as an actors union and that a combo could negatively impact the health and pension plans.

Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

SAG allocates funds for merger with AFTRA!

SAG allocates funds for merger with AFTRA!

Guild approves $2.2 mil for spending

Exclusive: Leaders of the Screen Actors Guild have allocated $2.2 million for spending on the proposed merger with the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists. SAG’s national board approved the expenditure at its meeting Saturday but had no comment. A person with knowledge of the vote confirmed the approval, which was strongly in favor but not unanimous. SAG has already spent $470,000 on the merger process.

Reps of SAG and AFTRA met for three days last month in Silver Spring, Md., at the National Labor College in the first of four confabs with the aim of delivering a merger plan by January to their respective national boards. The next meeting will take place in New York on Aug. 27-28.

No date’s been set yet for the vote by the 70,000 members of the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists and the 120,000 members of the Screen Actors Guild. But the target is for a merger plan to be delivered to the two national boards by January.

The unions still haven’t sorted out such thorny issues as the name of the combined union, dues structure and governance — all of which could provide ammunition for opponents. More than 60% of those voting in both unions must approve for the deal to go through.

At last month’s meeting, the reps established work groups on governance and structure; finance and dues; collective bargaining, pension, health and retirement; operations and staff; and member education and outreach. The unions gave few other details about the substance of the discussions.

A member vote could take place by this time next year by the 120,000 members of SAG and the 70,000 members of AFTRA — with 45,000 members belonging to both. Merging SAG and AFTRA isn’t guaranteed, particularly among the 120,000 members on the SAG side, despite arguments that a combined union would be stronger and resolve long-standing jurisdictional problems.

Approval requires a 60% super-majority from those voting in both unions. SAG members rebuffed similar efforts in 1998 and 2003 amid concerns that a merger would cause SAG to lose its unique character as an actors union and that a combo could negatively impact the health and pension plans.

Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

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The producers should put up the loot.  After all this is gonna benefit them the most.

 

 

SAG allocates funds for merger with AFTRA

SAG allocates funds for merger with AFTRA: Guild approves $2.2 mil for spending!

Exclusive: Leaders of the Screen Actors Guild have allocated $2.2 million for spending on the proposed merger with the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists. SAG’s national board approved the expenditure at its meeting Saturday but had no comment. A person with knowledge of the vote confirmed the approval, which was strongly in favor but not unanimous. SAG has already spent $470,000 on the merger process. Reps of SAG and AFTRA met for three days last month in Silver Spring, Md., at the National Labor College in the first of four confabs with the aim of delivering a merger plan by January to their respective national boards. The next meeting will take place in New York on Aug. 27-28. No date’s been set yet for the vote by the 70,000 members of the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists and the 120,000 members of the Screen Actors Guild. But the target is for a merger plan to be delivered to the two national boards by January.

The unions still haven’t sorted out such thorny issues as the name of the combined union, dues structure and governance — all of which could provide ammunition for opponents. More than 60% of those voting in both unions must approve for the deal to go through.

At last month’s meeting, the reps established work groups on governance and structure; finance and dues; collective bargaining, pension, health and retirement; operations and staff; and member education and outreach. The unions gave few other details about the substance of the discussions.

A member vote could take place by this time next year by the 120,000 members of SAG and the 70,000 members of AFTRA — with 45,000 members belonging to both. Merging SAG and AFTRA isn’t guaranteed, particularly among the 120,000 members on the SAG side, despite arguments that a combined union would be stronger and resolve long-standing jurisdictional problems.

Approval requires a 60% super-majority from those voting in both unions. SAG members rebuffed similar efforts in 1998 and 2003 amid concerns that a merger would cause SAG to lose its unique character as an actors union and that a combo could negatively impact the health and pension plans.

Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

 

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Let the producers put up the 2.2 mil.  After all it’s gonna benefit them most.

 

Arl

Membership First won’t run vs. Howard, Aquino

Membership First won’t run vs. Howard, Aquino

Group won’t field candidate pending details on SAG-AFTRA merger plan

By Dave McNary

Ken Howard may be running unopposed for a second term as president of the Screen Actors Guild.

The self-styled progressives of the Membership First faction won’t run a candidate to oppose Howard’s re-election bid via the Unite for Strength faction — nor a candidate against secretary-treasurer Amy Aquino. An independent candidate could emerge with the deadline for submitting petitions to run arriving next Thursday and voting starting next month.

Anne-Marie Johnson, who opposed Howard two years ago as the head of the Membership First slate, told Variety that the group has opted out because of efforts by SAG’s leaders to push for a merger between SAG and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists.

“Membership First has decided to wait and see what SAG leadership proposes for a merger plan in January,” she said. “We want to give the current leadership the opportunity to present a merger plan that will benefit actors and performers to ensure the security of a middle-class livelihood and keep a strong pension and health plan intact.”

Former SAG prexy Alan Rosenberg, who won elections in 2005 and 2007 and endorsed Johnson in 2009, told Variety he had considered a run but decided against doing so due to other obligations. He admitted it would be difficult to oppose Howard, given that Unite for Strength’s signature issue has been merger — touted as the best way to resolve jurisdictional overlaps and give actors more power.

“It’s a lie to say that we’ll be stronger by merging with AFTRA,” Rosenberg said. “What they really are pushing for is to assure that SAG will never go on strike again.”

Howard stressed moderation and pragmatism in winning the 2009 election with 47% of the vote over Johnson with 33% and Seymour Cassel with 18% while Aquino narrowly beat Membership First incumbent Connie Stevens. Howard announced last month that he’d seek re-election in order to see through the merger process, with official committees working on hammering out a merger plan by January.

A member vote could take place by this time next year by the 120,000 members of SAG and the 70,000 members of AFTRA — with 45,000 members belonging to both.

Approval requires a 60% super-majority from those voting in both unions. SAG members rebuffed similar efforts in 1998 and 2003 amid concerns that a merger would cause SAG to lose its unique character as an actors union and that a combo could negatively impact the health and pension plans.

In last fall’s election, Membership First insisted that a merged union be for actors only without broadcasters and singers — and then didn’t win a single national board seat. Membership First has fewer than a dozen seats on the 71-member SAG national board, including those held by Johnson, Ed Asner, Scott Bakula, Elliott Gould, Ed Harris, David Jolliffe, Diane Ladd and Martin Sheen.

Johnson said she, Bakula and Jolliffe would seek board seats in the upcoming election and pledged that she and her allies will keep close watch on the current leadership.

Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118039950?refcatid=4076