JOINT STATEMENT FROM AFTRA AND AMPTP ENCINO, Calif. (May 7, 2008) -- As scheduled, today the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) began formal negotiations regarding a new three-year Exhibit A of the Network Code agreement. At the start of talks, both parties expressed their desire to engage in open, productive discussions that will hopefully lead to a resolution that makes sense for both AFTRA and the industry. Both parties believe that these negotiations will be most productive if we refrain from commenting to the media until an agreement is reached.
AFTRA Members Ratify Network Television Code The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists announced today that AFTRA members ratified the Network Television Code by an overwhelming 93.35% approval. Click here for full details>> AFTRA and Non-Broadcast Producers Agree to Extend Contract An 18-month extension to the AFTRA National Code of Fair Practice for Non-Broadcast/Industrial/Educational Recorded Material begins May 1 with a 3-percent general rate increase and a one-half percent increase in the contribution rates into the unions’ benefit funds equaling the commercials rate of 14.8 percent. “This is a bread and butter contract for members in AFTRA locals across the country, and it was critical that this work continued to be covered without interruption,” said AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon. Click here for full details>>
Committee Appointed and Timeline Set to Explore Affected Member Voting Request AFTRA will explore affected member voting as approved by the AFTRA National Board on March 29 in Los Angeles. AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon has appointed a special committee officially charged to study proposals for affected member voting for major AFTRA freelanceperformer contracts. Read the entire new release>>
AFTRA Suspends Joint Bargaining with SAG to Negotiate Primetime TV Contract on its Own The AFTRA National Board overwhelmingly voted Saturday, March 29, in favor of suspending the joint bargaining process under the Phase One agreement with the Screen Actors Guild and plans to negotiate the Primetime TV contract with employers on its own. “AFTRA's leadership believes that our union must devote its energies first and foremost to working on behalf of performers,” said AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon. Here’s complete coverage:
Help The Actors Fund Help the Community The lingering effects of the writers’ strike are very severe. As of April 2, The Actors Fund had provided more than $1million in direct financial assistance to more than 600 people in Southern California impacted by the strike, and The Fund is still handling many new applications. To help The Fund keep up with the demands of the strike and their many other critical and essential human services programs, AFTRA members are encouraged to give a gift to The Actors Fund by going online to donate at www.actorsfundsupport.org/aftra/ or calling The Fund at 800.221.7303.
AFTRA Receives AFL-CIO Charter!
AFTRA announced that at its national board meeting Saturday, February 2, members received a major boost of confidence from the AFL-CIO, as the nation’s largest labor federation issued a direct charter Friday to the national labor union of more 70,000 performers, journalists, broadcasters, recording artists, and other talent working in the entertainment and news media.
Watch the announcement that AFTRA receives a direct charter from AFL-CIO president John Sweeney.
Tell Your Legislators to Support the Performance Rights Act Join with AFTRA recording artists, singers, broadcasters, and performers in supporting legislation to assure that recording artists receive compensation when their performances are played on over-the-air radio.Click here to send a message >>
An Important Notice for Clients of Conan Carroll & Associates, Los Angeles Click here>>
AFTRA Reaches Tentative Agreement with Record Labels on Sound Recordings Contract The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists announced that it has reached a tentative agreement with the recording industry on the AFTRA Sound Recordings Code. Click here to read the press release>>
AFTRA Channel Debuts on YouTube AFTRA members now have a channel at YouTube where you can share and watch video. The first piece on the channel is a clip from the documentary AFTRA: Commitment to Action and features a couple dozen members whose voices come together to say “I am AFTRA.” Also, you’ll find a link to a new video produced by AFTRA New York members to promote the AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement. Join AFTRA on YouTube at www.youtube.com/AFTRAnetwork
AFTRA Tells Producers to Make Their Projects a Hit with AFTRA Talent As part of the ongoing effort to make sure that your work in the new digital media is covered under an AFTRA contract, an outreach campaign to new media producers is underway. AFTRA.com now features a special landing page for producers that highlights recent productions covered by an AFTRA contract, including videogame Halo 3, internet comedy series Park Bench, and podcast The Creature. See how AFTRA is encouraging producers to engage AFTRA members in new media content here>>
Axium Bankruptcy Update: W-2 Forms for AFTRA Members As part of AFTRA’s ongoing efforts to protect members who are affected by the bankruptcy of payroll company Axium International, AFTRA’s attorneys have been in frequent contact with the bankruptcy trustee. The trustee has informed us that Axium has secured funding to prepare, and is preparing, W-2 forms for performers who were paid through Axium during calendar year 2007. Click here to read more>> What do you value when it comes to health care? AFTRA members are invited to answer questions about health care reform in a survey sponsored by the National Coalition on Health Care. AFTRA support for affordable universal health care that does not undermine existing coverage financed by business, labor, and government was reaffirmed by delegates at National Convention in July. Your opinion is important. Click here to participate in the survey>>
NO CONTRACT, NO WORK Order in Effect for ‘TMZ’ Effective September 20, 2007, members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists are advised that TMZ Productions Inc., Harvey Levin Productions Inc., and paraMedia inc.—producers of the syndicated TV series “TMZ”—are not signed to an AFTRA contract covering this program. AFTRA members may NOT accept employment, including recording in-show and/or promotional announcements, on “TMZ” until and unless a fair contract between AFTRA and the producers is achieved. If you are contacted for employment on “TMZ”, please contact Joan Halpern Weise, Assistant National Executive Director, at 323.634.8174 (jweise@aftra.com) or David Besbris, Los Angeles Local Director of Television, 323.634.8116 (dbesbris@aftra.com). All calls are confidential. Help Equity Members Win Contracts Support your fellow union members at Actors' Equity Association in their efforts to achieve fair contracts. For more information about the productions involved, please click here to see the AEA notice>>
Safety Resources for Journalists: A brief compendium of some of the practical safety resources, including links to other organizations. Click here for the print and html versions>>
Convention Empowers Members to Move Forward Elected as delegates to the AFTRA 70th Anniversary National Convention, the more than 250 AFTRA members from throughout the country who assembled in Philadelphia, July 19-21, were energized and engaged by the work accomplished at AFTRA’s highest governing body. AFTRA members are moving forward together to organize new work and maintain strong contracts. Click here for a full report with sights and sounds from the Convention>>
