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Convention Reelects Connolly President

Mark Roberts, Susan Chapek Named to Committees


AFTRA Pittsburgh Delegate, Susan Chapek, addresses the 59th national convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: İAFTRA Pittsburgh

August 17, 2003, NASHVILLE -- Actor John P. Connolly was re-elected National President of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists for a second term, on Saturday evening at the 59th AFTRA National Convention. Connolly ran unopposed to head the 80,000-member union, which represents actors, broadcasters, recording artists and other performers in the entertainment and news industries.

President Connolly was first elected in St. Paul, Minnesota in 2001. During his tenure, the union has pursued an aggressive organizing and legislative agenda, and he has been highly visible in fighting media consolidation, providing testimony before FCC commissioners and legislators. In concert with SAG National President Melissa Gilbert, he recently spearheaded the Consolidation and Affiliation campaign to combine the two organizations into one powerhouse union representing media artists. Although that effort failed to reach the supermajority of votes necessary in SAG, the AFTRA campaign achieved a 76% Yes vote from the highest voter turnout in AFTRA history.

Connolly's television career started on Kate and Allie; he regularly guest stars on primetime shows (NYPD Blue, West Wing, Without a Trace) and daytime dramas (General Hospital, The Young and the Restless). "The opportunity to lead this great union over the last two years has been a wonderful gift of friendship, solidarity and passion. I thank you for allowing me the privilege of continuing for another two years," said Connolly.

National Officers

National officers for the AFTRA Board of Directors are elected every two years at Convention. Those elected this year for two-year terms include:

Special Guests

During the Convention, President Connolly also welcomed AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, who thanked the members of AFTRA for "doing your share of the heavy lifting required to meet these challenging times. You've joined the rest of our movement in struggles that affect every working family -- and without compromising your historic principle of respecting the necessary neutrality of your members who work in the news media." Sweeney acknowledged the majority votes in AFTRA and SAG in favor of consolidation, describing the campaign as "another great example of the growing solidarity in the labor movement (and) clear indication that the prospects for building power and leverage for professional performers are better than ever."

The Convention body also heard from representatives of brother and sister unions including ACTRA President Thor Bishopric from Canada; Tom Lee, President, American Federation Of Musicians; SAG National President Melissa Gilbert (via videotape); Writers Guild West Executive Director John McLean and Patrick Quinn, President, Actors Equity Association.

Equity Talks

President Quinn restated Equity's strong support for an AFTRA/SAG consolidation and further informed the body about preliminary merger talks taking place between Equity and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and his hope for similar discussions to take place with the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA). Presidents Connolly and Quinn jointly announced that AFTRA's Strategic Alliances Committee (ASAC) would begin meeting with a group of Equity members to discuss ways in which the unions can work more closely together nationwide.

Convention Commits to Increasing Resources

After hearing a financial report from National Executive Director Greg Hessinger, the AFTRA Convention endorsed three separate resolutions, recommended by the National Board, seeking to stabilize the union's finances. These resolutions provide for a special assessment of $50 per member in each of the next two years, a dues increase of 5% in each of the next two years, and an increase in initiation fees from $1200 to $1300.

The resolutions also mandate that a special committee be created by the National Board to evaluate long-term financial solutions, and determine how additional monies would be most strategically and effectively directed. That evaluation could lead to a membership referendum within the next two years to approve a restructured dues schedule which, if issued and passed, would likely render the 2004 assessment unnecessary.

Hessinger articulated the union's need for additional financial resources in order to eliminate the existing deficit, and invest in organizing programs to ensure long-term growth. "By any objective measure, AFTRA's dues are lower than virtually any comparable union. And our research shows that, on a cost-per-member basis, our operations are extremely efficient," said Hessinger. "Given these realities, the AFTRA Convention concluded that a significant increase in AFTRA's revenue base is the only viable solution to enable the union to achieve long-term growth, density and power in all of the industries within AFTRA's broad jurisdiction."

Connolly Sets Committee Members

President Connolly named AFTRA Pittsburgh Treasurer, Mark Roberts, to the National Right to Work Task Force. Pittsburgh Secretary, Susan Chapek, continues her valuable work on the National Finance Committee.

On Sunday, August 17, the new National Board sat in plenary for the first time.

Click here for more Convention pictures.