December 2004

In this issue...

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H&R PREMIUMS DUE FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS
NETCODE BALLOTS ARE IN THE MAIL
PRIMETIME/THEATRICAL NEGOTIATIONS UNDERWAY
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – THIS MONTH’S ACTIVTY IN D.C.
SOUND RECORDINGS DISTRIBUTIONS
BROADCAST BULLETIN
CONGRATULATIONS
LOCAL BRIEFS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
LABOR UPDATES
WE REMEMBER
UNION EXTRAS

H&R PREMIUMS DUE FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS
As of January 1, 2005, every person covered under the H&R Health Plan must pay a premium for themselves - $300 per quarter - regardless of income level or whether also purchasing health plan coverage for eligible dependents. Premiums are generally due on the 15th of the month before the quarter begins, i.e., for the January 2005 quarter, premiums were due on December 15th. If you have not yet received a premium invoice or not yet paid your premium, call the AFTRA H&R office immediately at (800) 562-4690 to make arrangements to pay your premium. Or, send in your premium right away and contact the H&R office to let them know the payment is on the way. If you have any questions, you can also contact your local AFTRA office.

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NETCODE BALLOTS ARE IN THE MAIL
By now all members should have received their ballots for the recently negotiated AFTRA Network Code. Review the contents carefully and make sure to return your ballots no later than December 27. For more information on the proposed contract go to www.aftra.com. Call your local AFTRA rep or email NetCodeNegs2004@aftra.com with any questions. Remember to mail early to avoid holiday mail delays!

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PRIMETIME/THEATRICAL NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERWAY IN LOS ANGELES
On December 7, SAG and AFTRA started joint negotiations with the AMPTP on the SAG television/theatrical agreement and AFTRA’s Exhibit A. These contracts cover work on dramatic programming for primetime television and theatrical motion pictures. For updates and more information, go to www.aftra.com.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – THIS MONTH’S ACTIVTY IN D.C.
CARP Reform Passes
On November 17, by a unanimous (407-0) vote, the House of Representatives passed the Copyright Royalty and Distribution Reform Act of 2004, the only major piece of copyright legislation to emerge from the 108th Congress.

AFTRA began lobbying more than two years ago to streamline the current Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (“CARP”) system. From the outset, AFTRA noted certain problems with the previous system that had to be fixed as part of any new system, and these issues are addressed in the new law. Now, full-time government-employed Administrative Law Judges, specializing in these matters, will hear these proceedings instead of private arbitrators. This will eliminate costs that made the prior CARP proceedings too expensive for many small parties, non-profit organizations and artists, and the new structure will ensure that AFTRA will be able to participate in future proceedings should we choose to do so.

The changes in the timing of the new proceedings should prevent any lapse after the expiration of the old royalty rate and before the determination of the new rate so that all payments from licensees should now flow continuously. The new law also permits the Copyright Royalty Judges to address unanticipated issues and problems that arise during the license period covered by his or her decision.

FCC Media Ownership Hearing in St. Paul, MN
Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and Michael Copps hosted a forum in St. Paul, MN on December 9 that featured two panels — the first focused on local news and information outlets in the Twin Cities and included comments from Colleen Aho, Executive Director for AFTRA's Minneapolis operations. The second panel highlighted media diversity issues.

To read AFTRA's comments, go to www.aftra.com. For additional information on upcoming FCC activities, go to www.fcc.gov.

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SOUND RECORDINGS DISTRIBUTIONS
More than $3.5 Million Distributed to Recording Artists in November!
The AFM/AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund, SoundExchange and the Alliance of Artists and Record Companies (“AARC”) all made distributions to recording artists this past November, for a combined total of more than $3.5 million.

For more information on the AFM/AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund, SoundExchange and Alliance of Artist and Record Companies (“AARC”), please go to www.aftra.com/member/royalties.htm.

Does SoundExchange Have Money for You?
Musicians can now earn royalties each time their songs are digitally played -- but only if they act quickly. SoundExchange is conducting a nationwide search for artists in order to distribute royalties for songs played on satellite radio, the Internet and cable television in the United States.

The 38,000 musicians that SoundExchange is looking for must contact the group by December 31st to collect royalties from the first distribution cycle between 1996 and 2000. Musicians or their heirs who join the organization by the end of the year can collect past and current royalties in the first quarter of 2005. For more information, go to www.soundexchange.com.

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BROADCAST BULLETIN
AFTRA National Board Supports the Rights of Journalists in News Gathering
The AFTRA National Board in its November plenary session, unanimously passed two resolutions in response to the increasing legal pressure being brought to be bear on journalists for their use of traditional news gathering methods. The first resolution calls for a federal shield law to ensure the continued viability of confidential sources. The second resolution condemns the actions taken against a reporter who was arrested for merely calling the subject of a story. To read the full resolutions, go to www.aftra.com/press/pr_20041121_journalist_rights.html.

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CONGRATULATIONS
Legendary broadcaster and AFTRA National Board member Dan Ingram will receive the New York Metro Achievement in Radio (A.I.R.) Lifetime Achievement Award. Ingram has been a staple for New York radio listeners for over 40 years and is often dubbed the “King of Top 40 Radio”. The New York A.I.R. Awards are a unique industry-wide competition that recognizes diligence, creativity and excellence among radio pros in the New York Radio Market. The event is entering its 8th year in New York City and is also held in 10 other markets across the country. For more information go to www.nyairawards.com.

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LOCAL BRIEFS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
NEW YORK
The Actors’ Fund of America Announces the Dedication of the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic
Newly expanded free health clinic re-opens for entertainment professionals
The Actors’ Fund of America proudly dedicated the newly expanded free health clinic in memory of acclaimed artist Al Hirschfeld who passed away at 99 years old in January 2003. Relocated to the fourth floor at The Actors’ Fund’s Aurora Residence, the new clinic offers three examination rooms, a waiting room, a laboratory, private offices for the medical director and clinic manager and new equipment.

The Hirschfeld Clinic at The Actors’ Fund’s Aurora residence continues to serve uninsured and underinsured members of the entertainment community five days per week providing health care, health screenings and patient education. The affiliation with Columbia University Medical Center allows the clinic to provide free medical care to thousands of entertainment professionals annually and address a critical need in the community, since many of these individuals do not qualify for employment-based health insurance.

SAN FRANCISCO
Western Workers Labor Heritage Festival
On January 14-16, 2005, the 19th annual Western Workers Labor Heritage Festival in San Jose will honor the contributions made by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the civil rights and labor movements. The festival will feature song swaps, art displays, workshops, and performances. For full details visit the WWLHF website at http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/~lcushing/WWLHF/WWLHF05.html.

ATLANTA
Atlanta Lends an Ear
On Monday, November 15, 2004, the combined talents of the 3 national professional performers' unions came to fruition at "Lend Me An Ear!", a night of Old Time Radio recreations. With over 25 members from AFTRA, SAG and Equity, we held a fundraiser for the Atlanta Community Food Bank at the Equity house in Atlanta, the New American Shakespeare Tavern. The audience numbered well over 200 and we brought in more than $1300 in cash and checks and 827 pounds of food donations! This was no small achievement when you consider that every $1 translates into $7 of food buying power for the ACFB- $9100! And every pound of food means a person gets fed a meal, so we fed 827 people, just in time for Thanksgiving! Thanks to all those who made OTR come alive, we were able to contribute to a worthy cause.

The result was that we now have union and audience members clamoring for more shows of this kind. Thanks to the assistance of The Tavern's Artistic Director Jeffrey Watkins, we are going to make this an annual November event for the ACFB and the AFTRA/SAG/AEA Radio Players will become a regular ongoing performing group. We are planning to hold an OTR workshop and perform another show in the Spring of 2005, possibly through the AFTRA Foundation.

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LABOR UPDATES
San Franicsco Hotel Worker Labor Dispute Update
On November 20, during negotiations in the office of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, the San Francisco multi-employer group agreed to end the lockout of hotel workers that had begun on October 1. The parties agreed to a 60-day cooling off period during which the union agrees not to strike and the hotels agree not to lock out. According to Local 2, "Negotiations will continue in an attempt to settle the outstanding issues in the contract: medical benefits, pension contributions, retiree benefits, right to organize, wages, and contract term." Go to www.unitehere2.org for more information.

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WE REMEMBER
David Bailey (1933-2004), an actor and daytime veteran ("Another World", "Guiding Light", "As The World Turns", "Ryan's Hope") who recently began playing the ruthless Alistair Crane on NBC's "Passions." Bailey was born in Newark, NJ and appeared in many on-stage productions as well as writing and directing as a founding member of The Black Book Theatre Company.

David Brudnoy (1940-2004), a broadcaster who remained number one for all of his 18 years at Boston’s WBZ radio. Brudnoy was born in Minneapolis and was a graduate of Harvard and Yale. He was pursuing his doctorate at Brandeis when he began his broadcasting career on-air at WBGH in 1971.

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UNION EXTRAS
Union Plus Benefits for Union Members
Just as unions provide strength in the workplace, Union Privilege provides strength in the marketplace. Union Privilege delivers the best benefits through the collective buying power of over 13 million AFL-CIO union members and designs programs that help union members enjoy life at a great price. By using the collective buying power of unions, Union Privilege is able to offer a variety of high quality, discounted products and services exclusively to working families.

AFTRA members enjoy discounts on credit services, legal services, pet services, travel, computers and more. Go to www.unionplus.org to see all the discounts available to you.

Shop Union for the Holidays
Now it's easier than ever to purchase union-made gifts for friends and relatives as the Union Label has developed a new website that features an array of gifts from clothing and chocolates to computers, games and greeting cards.

The web site at www.shopunionmade.org will allow visitors to make sure that their shopping dollars support good-paying jobs with good wages and benefits.

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