Legislation

The members of AftraNOW have supported the adoption of the Employee Free Choice Act.

Why? Not because it is "undemocratic". It isn't. We support it because it puts the decision to join a union and bargain a first contract fully in the hands of workers, not employers. That's the "free choice". Currently, employers choose how workers will decide to join a union. That's just nuts. And while some employers are honest and fair-minded allowing "majority sign-up", most demand the "secret ballot election" which allows them time to divide and conquer thru tactics of fear, intimidation, misinformation, and of course, selective firings.

Ficticious. And ficticious-er.
This legislation does not take away workers right to a secret ballot election if that is what the majority wants. Far from being "undemocratic", this legislation gives control back to those who should rightfully have it: the workers themselves.

The Employee Free Choice Act also helps workers bargain a first contract. Often, workers finally win a union election only to see their employers stall on negotiations. Six years is a long time to bargain a first contract. But that's what's happened to Chicago AFTRAns at a local Spanish language radio station. GE/NBC = no deal. Even after six years of trying. So much for "bargaining in good faith".

This legislation is needed and timely. It's time to put the "choice" back where it belongs. Go to the AFTRA website and see the support video, connect with more information, record your OWN video of support and take action to help get the choice back!

AFTRA's 60th Convention endorsed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

This year's convention delegates overwhelmingly passed a resolution supporting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, with gender identity protections included. Further, that all AFTRA Locals protect the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from discrimination by supporting legislation that outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

AFTRA is one of the first labor unions to support this legislation;

Governor keeps incentives in his budget proposal; Legislature now acting on them with final passage of state's budget; we're crossing our fingers...

We've made the case with legislators: the incentives work! They bring jobs, increase economic activity far beyond just the world of entertainment, and actually make more money than the city and state provide in incentives. Now, it's up to them to make sure it stays in the budget..

In a very tight year, the incentive program - got an additional $350M from the state for 2009. But that was it. This year's proposal funds the program for five years, a program that will genuinely serve the needs of series television.

Despite the fact that daytime programming is excluded, along with digital animation and interactive games, AFTRA / NY has been an early and ardent supporter of the incentives. Since their inception in 2004, we've seen our employment numbers triple in scripted entertainment and are having one of our best years ever.

Incentives are not charity. They make more money in new tax revenue for the city and state than they nominally "cost". Incentives are pure economic development, one of the few programs the state runs that actually does what it says it will do: create more jobs and increase tax revenues..

Jobs, jobs and more jobs. That's why we care about this, and why we will continue to urge legislators to fund a sustainable program that makes sense for series TV and all forms of digital production..

We support the Performance Rights Act for terrestrial radio

This legislation gives performers a "performance right" - actors understand it as a residual - for the use of their performance on terrestrial radio. The US is one of the few nations, besides North Korea, Iran and Burundi that do not provide payment to talent. The "right" is also essential to AFTRAns in order for them to receive already-collected residuals in Europe and Japan, money that sits waiting for them because they have no "right" to it. This legislation would fix that.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is setting their hair on fire, claiming this will put them out of business. And, in a particularly ugly turn of events, the NAB has made minority-owned stations afraid they'll have to close shop because of the burden of paying these residuals. Both claims are out and out false.

How much money are we talking about here? It is hard to see how small stations could be put out of business with annual fees to cover the on-air use of all musical performances that are as small as $100. But hey, why tell the truth when scaring the living daylights out of people will help you stop this legislation in its tracks.

Again, without this "right", American performers can not receive the international money available to them.

American terrestrial radio has had a free ride for decades. Apparently, they want to ride a little further. With your help, we can disappoint them. Check out the MusicFirst Coalition website where you can get more information and take action in support of this legislation.