Many of you will have seen the email that Local 47 sent out on April 9 title Important Announcement Re: Theme Park Productions, Inc. Musicians came to us looking for their union’s protection, citing a lack of health care and pension contributions, the requirement to sign an abusive and far-reaching waiver, and, while hourly wages seemed high, the prospect of not getting paid right.
We had made a commitment not to target musicians in such circumstances, but instead focus on the companies that make the unfortunate decision to hire musicians below standard. We have committed not to repeat past patterns of response, patterns of either staying completely silent, which leaves our musicians adrift, or targeting and blaming musicians, which drives us apart from each other. Instead, we exposed the company, one that we do a good deal of on-contract work for, one that has more than enough money to pay us properly.
The issue of off-contract work exploiting musicians is difficult, complicated and hydra-headed. We don’t pretend to have all the answers, but we and passionately intent on bringing us together to work on pathways to success. Stay tuned!
Our AFM is transforming into an organizing union, and Local 47 is on the forefront of change. Our new Director of Organizing, Evangelina (Eva) Nevarez, introduces herself in her own words in this issue of the Overture. We are thrilled to have her aboard! Already working hand in hand with newly expanded AFM organizing staff, Eva has begun reaching out to musicians, visiting work sites, making phone calls, and taking a leading role with our YOLA organizing campaign.
At the end of April, Vice President Acosta and Secretary/Treasurer Kruvand and I attend the AFM Western Conference of Locals, a sort of mini-convention of the locals across the west, from British Columbia across to Texas and back around to California. It was an opportunity to have in–person conversations with AFM leadership, staff and local leaders. As we work to bring our Local 47 agenda items to fruition at the AFM-wide level, all three of us were able to engage on your behalf within the Western Conference.
The AFM is a member of the Entertainment Union Coalition, the organized group of unions representing workers throughout the industry, including musicians along with actors, writers, directors, crafts workers and more. In my new role as AFM representative, I’ve moved quickly to cement relationships and engage with the legislative plans of the EUC. Much depends on our upcoming elections; the next Governor and other legislators will be key in determining what is available from the state for improvements that musicians’ needs can be made part of. The EUC held a series of interviews with each of the gubernatorial candidates, and I was able to participate in the final two interviews.
Beyond the main film/TV tax credit program known as 4.0, the California Post Alliance (CAPA) has formed to promote a post-production specific bill in Sacramento, AB 2319 (Schultz). I reached out to their leadership for meetings, and have continued to engage with them to help make the language of the bill as musician-friendly as possible. The bill is a work in progress, and it is helpful that the proponents have shown themselves open to necessary suggestions. We all agree that we need more scoring work here, and we all agree that we don’t want California tax dollars supporting cash dates, so our goal of increasing at-standard scoring work is paramount. I’ve invited Dennis Dreith, a CAPA Board Member, to submit an article about CAPA to this issue of the Overture.
You’ll also be hearing from us about an informational panel scheduled for May 11, at 5:30 p.m., Zoom-only, about tax incentives for film/TV in California, the federal government and other states. We hope you’ll join us!
We are bringing a “refresh and reset” approach to many of our Local 47 collective bargaining agreement negotiations. One of the first changes we have made is in how bargaining concludes; it has been the practice to agree to and contract changes, and then put them in a “redline version” to be sent back and forth for approval between management and our union. Unfortunately this has in too many cases turned into conflict over exactly what had been agreed to. We are now concluding negotiations with a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), containing all of the new and changed language, that both parties sign, ending the discussion about anything but formatting and typos. This leads to clarity and collegiality once an agreement has been reached.
Another “refresh and reset” has to build relationships across the table by insisting on in-person meetings. We have had great success by ditching the Zoom, and sitting together.
We are developing an organizing-first approach to negotiations, working to help committees reach out to the full orchestra, and build wider understanding and buy-in from everyone involved. When it is time for your orchestra to elect a committee, or plan for negotiations, expect us to reach out and help support you. And please consider participating – we are not “you and the union” but, rather, “you are the union”!