AFTRA Board Approves Sweeping Overhaul of Union's Structure
New York, N.Y. July 10, 2004 --- Acting on recommendations by a select
committee of National Officers, key committee chairs and National and Local
staffs, the AFTRA National Board, meeting in full plenary session at the
Sheraton New York Hotel today, initiated a sweeping restructuring of the
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
"The AFTRA National Board has acted decisively and responsibly to make sure
that AFTRA will have the resources necessary to properly serve its members
and expand their employment opportunities," said AFTRA National President
John Connolly. "We no longer have the luxury of time to strengthen our
union's finances. The Board has wisely and courageously recognized that
there were no easy options and no quick fixes," Connolly said.
The Board took the following actions:
Endorsed the preliminary recommendation to move AFTRA's
National headquarters from Manhattan to Los Angeles and instructed the
National Executive Director and the union's Finance Committee to present a
report and analysis covering the financial, strategic and organizational
implications of that proposed relocation to the 2005 National Board Summer
plenary and to the 2005 Convention.
Adopted a National staff structure, giving the National
Executive Director full authority over the union's National and Local staff.
Previously, employees of AFTRA's major locals operated under separate staff
structures accountable only to their Local Boards.
Reduced its National Board from 113 to 75 members, and
instructed the National Executive Director and a member committee to prepare
a report containing various formulae for achieving the smaller size while
protecting geographical representation. Reduction in the Board's size is
subject to final approval by the 2005 Convention.
Modified the number of regularly scheduled National Board
meetings to three per fiscal year, instead of the present four.
Decided, effective approximately May 1, 2005, to close the
San Diego Local Office and retain one office in Texas (location to be
determined), rather than the present two.
Instructed the Finance Committee to examine adding a cost
of living increase to the existing dues structure. Any such increase would
be subject to approval by the 2005 Convention.
Instituted reductions in both Convention delegate expenses
and staff benefits, with the understanding that if AFTRA's financial
condition permits, the National Board will consider the feasibility of
reinstating both after the restructuring transition period.
"By making these difficult decisions, the National Board has taken the
necessary steps to ensure that AFTRA will have the resources and capacity to
vigorously represent our members in a rapidly changing environment," said
National Executive Director Greg Hessinger. "These initiatives will reduce
expenditures, increase revenues and create an effective national structure
that is both financially sound and able to anticipate and confront the
challenges of the future."
AFTRA the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists - affiliated
with the AFL-CIO -- is a diverse union representing nearly 80,000
professionals nationwide who work in news and entertainment programming on
television and radio as well as in the sound recording industry, commercials
and industrial work, and new technologies such as interactive programming
and CD ROMs.