January 2005

In this issue...

Please click on the following links to take you to the news...

NETWORK CODE RATIFIED
PRIMETIME/THEATRICAL NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE
AFTRA WEBSITE CHANGES
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – THIS MONTH’S ACTIVTY IN D.C.
BROADCAST BULLETIN
LOCAL BRIEFS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
LABOR UPDATES
WE REMEMBER
UNION EXTRAS

NETWORK CODE RATIFIED
AFTRA Members voted overwhelmingly to approve the new three-year National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting (the “Network Code”). The new three-year pact, effective November 16, 2004, will remain in full force until November 15, 2007. For more information, go to www.aftra.com.

back to index

PRIMETIME/THEATRICAL NEGOTIATIONS
Negotiations on the Primetime/Theatrical contract with the AMPTP are set to resume on January 19 after a short recess. For updates and more information, go to www.aftra.com.

back to index

AFTRA WEBSITE IMPROVEMENTS
The AFTRA website at www.aftra.com has been improved! You will now find the website faster, easier to navigate and more user-friendly. On the website you can find lots of useful information such as benefit information, legislative activities, contract information, updated news and more.

back to index

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
FCC Localism Comments Filed
AFTRA, The American Federation of Musicians, Future of Music Coalition, Recording Academy and Recording Artists' Coalition filed joint reply comments with the FCC on the issue of broadcast localism, including issues of local access to radio, the impact of "pay for play" business practices, and the domination of centralized programming “appearing” to be local through devices such as voicetracking and central casting. Go to localism reply comments to read the full comments.

2004 Tax Break for Tsunami Relief Donations
Recently the House and Senate passed legislation allowing taxpayers who make cash contributions by January 31, 2005 towards tsunami relief efforts to treat such contributions as having been made in 2004. This means that for individuals, the deduction can be taken on the 2004 tax return. Keep in mind that this will only benefit those who itemize their deductions. This legislation is not limited to individuals and is also available to corporate taxpayers. Please consult your own tax adviser if you have any questions.

Legislative Issues to Keep An Eye On in 2005
Federal Shield Law
Indecency Fines
Pension Reform

back to index

BROADCAST BULLETIN
Tsunami Relief
Many journalists from Southeast Asia and Africa were impacted by the recent devastating tsunami disaster by losing family and friends or being injured or killed. The International Federation of Journalists is collecting donations on behalf of journalists who were killed, injured, or who lost family as a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami. For more information about how you can donate to the IFJ fund, please visit tsunami relief.

In addition, the International News Safety Institute and the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma have compiled useful information for journalists who are covering the disaster, and working under difficult circumstances. This information can be accessed on-line at news safety.

AFTRA is a member of the International Federation of Journalists, and a founding member of the International News Safety Institute.

back to index

LOCAL BRIEFS
Chicago
By a strong majority of 17-6, employees at WGCI-FM (107.5) and Gospel Station WGRB-AM (1390) chose AFTRA to represent them in collective bargaining with Clear Channel Radio Stations. Clear Channel made it difficult every step of the way and the unit had to take a claim to the NLRB. To read more about WGCI’s struggles and win, go to WGCI.

Los Angeles
Actor’s Fund Seminar
Wednesday, February 2, 2005: Getting and Keeping Health Insurance
1pm-3pm: 5757 Wilshire, 1st Floor, Cagney Room
Space is limited. Please R.S.V.P to Simon at saboufad@actorsfund.org or (323) 933-9244 ext 32.

Attention Los Angeles Members: Free Health Screenings for Women
AFTRA Los Angeles is pleased to join with the LA County Office of Women’s Health in offering free women’s health screenings on February 9 at the AFTRA offices. If you are female, with no health insurance, and with low household income, you may qualify for free health tests provided that day by the Office of Women’s Health from their mobile health van. Free pap tests and screenings for diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol will be available. You do not need to be an AFTRA member to access these free services. Please call Kathleen Winslow, AFTRA’s Director of Community Services, (323) 634-8104 for more details. Space is limited at this AFTRA-hosted health event.

back to index

LABOR UPDATES
AFL-CIO
The Labor Movement in America continues to struggle in an increasingly hostile regulatory and political environment. As we begin a new year, the internal debate about how to increase the leverage and power of working Americans continues and you should make your views known. Go to www.aflcio.org/ourfuture to add your voice.

back to index

WE REMEMBER
Jerry Orbach (1935 – 2004), a notable New York actor for more than three decades when he joined "Law & Order" in its third season. He was a star of the city's theatrical world, having originated the roles of El Gallo in the off-Broadway "Fantasticks," Billy Flynn in the original mid-'70s Broadway run of "Chicago" and Julian Marsh in the revival of "42nd Street." He won a Tony for his performance in 1968's "Promises, Promises". He is survived by his wife, Elaine, and his children, Tony and Chris.

Walt Starling (1953 – 2005), a flying traffic reporter in DC since 1974. His career as an air-traffic radio reporter began as a class project at the University of Maryland in 1973 and he was one of the few traffic reporters in the country who both flew the plane and did the reporting. In 1995, he went to work in television and became an assignment editor. He is survived by his wife, Sharon, his two children, W. Brent and Joanna, his mother, Doris Starling, a sister, Phyllis, and two grandchildren.

Jeff Edelman, a leading voiceover artist in NY for 20 years. Widely respected and loved in the performer community and a tremendously skilled voiceover artist as both an announcer and actor. He was an active and supportive unionist.

back to index

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.

back to index