CAMPAIGN 09: What We Think

Contracts   In 2008, a tough year for everyone, members of AftraNOW were leaders in an unprecedented effort that successfully negotiated three of AFTRA's largest contracts:                          Network Code,                         Sound Recordings                         Exhibit A/ Prime Time of the Network Code             We extended two more, with salary increases:                         Interactive Games and                         Industrial / Non-Broadcast And, this March we successfully beat back harsh industry proposals in the jointly-negotiated Commercials Code, maintaining Class A residuals, and winning solid across the board gains. That proposed contract has received the unanimous support of the Joint Negotiating Committee AND the Joint Boards of AFTRA & SAG.  When you receive your ballot to ratify the contract, the members of AftraNOW urge you to vote YES! In TV entertainment, we nailed down jurisdiction in New Media, developed new payment models, and established the right of "covered performers" to work under a union New Media contract.  We increased salaries, expanded covered background jobs, and increased benefit contribution rates. We were instrumental in creating forward-thinking contracts in the growing area of Audiobooks, with both small local and large national producers. In doing this, we pursued one of our most important goals: creating new job opportunities for members. Jobs     In a dicey economic climate, with the Dow and the dollar sinking, AftraNOW members helped win these victories, and others, in all areas of our jurisdiction.  AftraNOW believes in the kind of realism, agility, and pragmatism that allows us to win, even in the hardest of times.  We do the work to Keep Everyone Working.      Legislative    After five years of effort, we finally eradicated damaging and unfair Non-Compete clauses for broadcast contracts in one of the last major media markets where they existed - New York.   We made certain that the NY COBRA subsidy program, now being emulated by the federal government, was fully funded.  We lobbied hard to get a five-year expansion of the production incentives that resulted in another banner year for AFTRA employment, and NY entertainment employment in general.  When the program's success meant it quickly used up it's allotted funding, we have continued to work to make certain New York television has a realistic incentive program that will Keep Everyone Working -- not just this year, but far into the future. Community     We work best and win the most when we can work together.   That's why we led the drive for full membership in the AFL-CIO, taking our rightful place as one of this country's major labor unions.  And we continue to strengthen our relationships with other unions in information and entertainment, to give us maximum strength and influence. Protections     We pursued a broad range of protections::                     reform of tax laws for actors                     residual rights for singers on the radio and                     health care reform for everyone.  And we're pushing to win passage of the "Employee Free Choice Act" to ensure working professionals, not corporations, have the choice of how to join a union and bargain a first contract.  That's real democracy and fairness at work. Renewal     We saw the much-needed renovation of the NY Local offices completed, for both efficiency and long-term cost savings. Support      We continue to support popular and useful local programs like                 Open Door                 Aftra@WORK                 Stanley Greene Media Training Center These programs help give our work a chance to be seen and heard, and to be at our best when opportunity knocks.  And in an outstanding example of union service and solidarity, AftraNOW Performers with Disabilities chair Anita Hollander co-chaired a national tri-union initiative ("I am PWD" www.iampwd.org) to bring visibility to the strengths and needs of performers with disabilities.  Strategy     As the digital revolution continues to unfold, we look ahead to make certain AFTRA is poised to organize the areas of maximum opportunity in scripted entertainment, news and information, and sound recordings.  Our future depends upon it. AftraNOW members, new recruits and seasoned veterans, continue to provide the leadership we all need to succeed in a time of unparalleled change and innovation.  We again ask for your support in building AFTRA as a comprehensive media union for the 21st century - agile, efficient, focused, reliable, independent…and working!