Allegro
Executive Board Minutes
January 30, 2007 -- February 27, 2007
Volume CVII, No. 4April, 2007
TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2007
Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Burridge, Fein, Hunt, Johansen, Rizzo, Schaffner, Schwartz, and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens.
Assistant to the President and Organizing Director Joe Eisman introduced to the Board.
Eisman excused.
Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of January 9, 2006.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.
Board member Schaffner present at 11:15 a.m.
Landolfi informed the Board that she had received a letter from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance thanking Local 802 for its contribution to a scholarship programs established in the name of Actors’ Equity and its former Executive Director, Allan Eisenberg.
Landolfi requested purchase of a full-page ad at a cost of $400 in the program booklet for the upcoming AFM International Convention.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Board member Giannini present at 11:20 a.m.
Landolfi distributed 4 retainer agreements with Meyer, Suozzi, English and Klein, P.C. that include a continuation of the current retainer agreement for the next three month, for lobbying work in Albany and to serve as the union’s co-counsel on the Local 802 Health Benefits Fund and Theatre Sick Pay & Hospitalization Fund.
Discussion held.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the 4 retainer agreements.
Landolfi requested the expenditure of up to $1,000 to remove a wall on the 5th floor separating the former organizing department from the rest of the 5th floor.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the expenditure.
Landolfi reported on two pending grievances involving Broadway shows.
Discussion held on grievances and on the work of the Broadway Theatre Committee.
Dennison requested a contribution of $250 to the Tenants Political Action Committee.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Financial Vice President Blumenthal reported that members of the American Classical Orchestra had ratified their new collective bargaining agreement.
Blumenthal reported on efforts to achieve a new collective bargaining agreement with the Village Light Opera.
Board member Johansen presented a report from the Board committee appointed to recommend an appropriate way to honor long serving former officers. (See minutes of January 2, 2007.)
Discussion held.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the committee’s recommended concept of a plaque to be created with appropriate language honoring former officers, that a public event be organized to unveil the plaque and to approve a total budget of up to $6,000 for the plaque and public event.
Principal Theatre Representative Donovan appeared before the Board and presented an agreement covering the production of “Xanadu” at the Helen Hayes Theatre.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the contract.
Donovan excused.
Political Action/Public Relations Director Smith appeared before the Board and reported on the status of her work.
Discussion held.
Meeting recessed at 1:05 p.m.
Meeting resumed at 2:20 p.m. Present: Landolfi, Blumenthal, Dennison, Fein, Giannini, Hunt, Rizzo and Schwartz.
Controller Goldman appeared before the Board and presented the un-audited Consolidated Financial Statement for 2006 and distributed the general fund vouchers for December 2006 and January 2007.
Schaffner present at 2:30 p.m.
Discussion held.
Goldman excused.
Landolfi updated the Board on the special situation request from the producers of the Broadway production of “Pirate Queen.”
Discussion held.
Theatre Negotiating Committee chair Gagliardi present during previous discussion.
Board member Rizzo excused at 3:45 p.m.
Discussion continued.
Meeting adjourned at 4:20.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2007
Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Burridge, Fein, Giannini, Hunt, Johansen, Rizzo and Schwartz.
Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of January 30, 2006.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.
Board member Schaffner and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens present at 11:15 a.m.
President Landolfi requested a contribution of $100 from TEMPO 802 to the political action committee of Assembly member Jose Peralta.
Motion made a carried unanimously to approve the request.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the December and January vouchers.
Landolfi reported that Local 153 of the Office and Professional Employees International Union, which represents the Local 802 clerical staff, had requested that negotiations begin on a new collective bargaining agreement.
Landolfi reported on staff changes on the 5th floor.
Discussion held.
Member Dave Weiss, Principal Recording Representative Sheldon and Recording Representative LeFevre present for a discussion of the status of the game music industry, the new AFM Experimental Game Agreement and a recent meeting of the Association of Music Producers.
Discussion held.
Board member Giannini excused at 12:25 p.m.
Discussion continued.
Motion made and carried unanimously to purchase a full-page color ad in the 2007 issue of the Film and Television Movie Guide at a total cost of no more than $3,500 including design costs, that the expenditure come from the public relations budget and that a request for co-funding be submitted to the Coordinating Advisory Committee.
Blumenthal presented a request from NY Collegium that the notification requirement be reduced from four weeks to two weeks for an upcoming concert on a one time, non-precedential basis. Blumenthal reported that the orchestra members had recommended approval of the request.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Blumenthal reported on the status of efforts to reach a new agreement with the Village Light Opera.
Blumenthal reported on correspondence with former President Lennon regarding his request for severance pay and the union’s response to that request.
Discussion held.
Schaffner distributed the Memorandum of Agreement between the American Federation of Musicians and the recording industry outlining the terms of the new Sound Recording Labor Agreement. Schaffner also distributed a summary of wages, late penalties and benefits collected by the Local 802’s recording department in behalf of musicians working under AFM electronic media agreements.
Discussion held.
Meeting adjourned at 1:50 p.m.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2007
Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Fein, Giannini, Hunt, Johansen, Rizzo, Schaffner, Schwartz, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens and Local 802 Counsel Engelstein.
Counsel Engelstein made a presentation on possible proposals for the upcoming Broadway negotiations that included funding sources for an improved health benefits plan.
Discussion held.
Landolfi reported on the status of efforts to prepare for the Broadway negotiations.
Discussion held.
Landolfi appointed Board member Hunt to serve as the Executive Board’s representative in the upcoming Broadway negotiations and Board member Johansen to serve as the Executive Board’s alternate representative.
Landolfi reported on discussions with representatives of Congressman Jerold Nadler (D-NY) and with Congressman and Local 802 member John Hall (D-NY) concerning the resolution of problems musicians continue to confront in traveling on airlines with their instruments.
Landolfi reported on organizing efforts in the club date field. Board members Rizzo and Fein volunteered to participate in that effort.
Blumenthal distributed a report from the Computer Department regarding the status of work on the development of Local 802’s proprietary software.
Blumenthal reported on his attendance at the New Jersey State Conference of AFM Locals.
Blumenthal reported on the status of efforts to secure a new agreement with the Village Light Opera.
Dennison requested that the organizing discount be extended to musicians engaged in the Latin Grammy Awards and the 2006 Video Music Awards if they join Local 802 within the next 90 days.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Meeting recessed at 1:10 p.m.
Meeting resumed at 2:15 p.m. Present: Landolfi, Blumenthal, Dennison, Burridge, Fein, Hunt, Giannini, Owens, Rizzo, Schaffner and Schwartz.
Jazz Representative Hayes appeared before the Board and presented an agreement with Dez Jazz, Inc. (Gerald Weldon).
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.
Hayes presented an agreement with Educational Enrichment through Musical & Cultural Diversity, Inc. (Wesley Watson).
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.
Hayes presented a grievance as per the grievance procedure in the collective bargaining agreement with HERSONG LLC regarding outstanding wages and benefits owed musicians by the company.
The Executive Board ruled that HERSONG LLC owed such wages and benefits and that HERSONG LLC was given 30 days to comply with the terms of the agreement.
Hayes requested that Local 802 join with Bread and Roses, the cultural arm of Local 1199, Service Employees International Union in sponsoring an African American History Month celebration that included a live music performance at a cost of $600.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the co-sponsorship and funding request of $600 with funds to from the public relations budget.
Discussion held on the Anne Walker Scholarship Fund.
Board member Schwartz and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens agreed to review fund raising ideas for the Anne Walker Scholarship Fund and to report back to the Board.
Meeting adjourned at 2:50 p.m.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2007
Meeting called to order at 11:20 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Fein, Giannini, Schaffner, Schwartz and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens.
Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of February 13, 2007.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the December 2006 and January 2007 vouchers.
President Landolfi requested support for members of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 364 who are on strike at the Conn-Selmer instrument manufacturing plant in Elkhart, Indiana.
Motion made and passed unanimously to support the striking UAW members, to endorse a boycott of instruments manufactured at the Elkhart plant, to publicize the boycott to the membership of Local 802 and to make area retail instrument stores aware of the boycott.
Landolfi reported on upcoming New York Philharmonic negotiations, the Philharmonic’s choice of legal counsel and the potential allowance for payment of legal counsel under the terms of the Members Legal Services Bylaw.
Discussion held.
Landolfi reported that special situation status had been granted to the Broadway production of “The Pirate Queen” by the committee impaneled to review the production’s request as per the collective bargaining agreement between Local 802 and the League of American Theatres and Producers.
Discussion held.
Financial Vice President Blumenthal reported on discussions with management of the National Chorale regarding benefit payments for upcoming performances.
Discussion held.
Blumenthal reported on the status of discussions with the Village Light Opera Group.
Blumenthal reported on preparations for freelance orchestra negotiations.
Discussion held on recent developments regarding the Recording Musicians Association and the formation of a “Professional Musicians Guild” by AFM members in Los Angeles.
Discussion held on plans to honor former Local 802 officers.
Board member Hunt present at 12:40 p.m.
Discussion held on preparations for Broadway negotiations.
Blumenthal requested approval of a wage increase of 3 percent for a non-bargaining unit employee.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the increase.
Meeting adjourned at 1:50 p.m.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2007
Meeting called to order at 11:15 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Fein, Giannini, Hunt, Johansen, Schwartz and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens.
Members Jaime Austria, Olivia Koppell and David Titcomb present for a discussion of issues regarding the American Federation of Musicians and Employers Pension Fund including resolutions prepared for the 2007 AFM Convention. The resolutions, titled “AMF & EPF Web Site,”
“AFM & EPF Office Accessibility,” and “Pension Fund Advisory Committee” were distributed to the Board and the request made that the Local 802 Executive Board and Local 802 Convention delegates support the resolutions.
Discussion held.
Members Austria, Koppell and Titcomb excused.
Motion made and carried unanimously to endorse the AFM & EPF Office Accessibility Resolution as amended and submit same to the AFM for consideration at the 2007 AFM Convention.
Motion made and carried unanimously to endorse the AMF & EPF Web Site Resolution as amended and submit same to the AFM for consideration at the 2007 AFM Convention.
Motion made and carried unanimously to endorse the Pension Fund Advisory Committee Resolution as amended and submit same to the AFM for consideration at the 2007 AFM Convention.
A convention resolution was distributed regarding regular communications between rank and file union members and the Union Trustees on the AFM & EPF.
Motion made and carried unanimously to endorse the “Communication with Rank and File Musician” Resolution as amended and submit same to the AFM for consideration at the 2007 AFM Convention.
Meeting recessed at 12:55 p.m.
Meeting resumed at 2:05 p.m. Present Landolfi, Blumenthal, Dennison, Burridge, Fein, Giannini, Hunt, Schaffner and Schwartz.
The Board subcommittee on resolutions for the 2007 AFM Convention distributed proposed resolutions for action by the Board.
Motion made and carried unanimously to endorse proposed resolution on the “Exemption of 15 percent work dues on new use of Broadway Cast Albums” and submit same to the AFM for consideration at the 2007 AFM Convention.
Motion made and carried unanimously to endorse a resolution regarding “Voting on National Electronic Media Contracts” and submit same to the AFM for consideration at the 2007 AFM Convention.
Motion made and carried unanimously to endorse a resolution titled “National Health Care” and submit same to the AFM for consideration at the 2007 AFM Convention.
Motion made and carried unanimously to endorse a resolution titled “Permanent Funding of NPR and PBS” and submit same to the AFM for consideration at the 2007 AFM Convention.
Discussion held on a resolution regarding “Affiliation with Central Labor Councils.”
Motion made and carried unanimously to endorse a resolution titled “AFM to Explore Merger” and submit same to the AFM for consideration at the 2007 AFM Convention.
Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens present at 2:30 p.m.
Motion made and carried unanimously to endorse a resolution titled “Not One More Dollar for Occupation and War in Iraq” and submit same to the AFM for consideration at the 2007 AFM Convention.
Motion made and carried unanimously to endorse the resolution titled “Opposition to Escalation of US Troops to Iraq” and submit same to the AFM for consideration at the 2007 AFM Convention.
Motion made and carried unanimously to endorse the resolution titled Delegates to the AFM Convention and submit same to 2007 AFM Convention.
Discussion held.
Resolution presented on Delegate Convention Votes.
Motion made and carried unanimously to endorse the resolution titled “Delegate Convention Votes” and submit same to the AFM for consideration at the 2007 AFM Convention.
Motion made and carried unanimously to endorse the resolution titled “Election of AFM Officers” and submit same to the AFM for consideration at the 2007 AFM Convention.
President Landolfi presented a retainer agreement between Local 802 and Counsel Mars.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the retainer agreement.
Landolfi reported on her attendance at a recent meeting of the AFM & EPF trustees.
Landolfi reported on the status of Broadway negotiations.
Blumenthal reported on the status of the audit of 2006 finances and preparation of the Department of Labor’s required annual LM-2 reports.
Blumenthal requested the purchase of a new “line-printer” for the union’s computer department at a cost of no more than $5,500.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Board member Johansen excused at 3:15 p.m.
Dennison requested Senior Representative status for Recording Department Representative LeFevre.
Motion made and carried unanimously to grant Senior Representative status to Recording Representative Lefevre.
Dennison requested a $1,000 contribution from the Local 802 Strike Fund to the strike fund of UAW Local 364 representing striking workers at the Conn-Selmer instrument manufacturing plant in Elkhart, Indiana.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Dennison presented a request from MIME Director Larry Rawdon for the purchase of 50 copies of “Tocar y Luchar,” a DVD on the Venezuelan music education program, for donation to prominent groups involved in music education and for sale to Local 802 members, with any net proceeds going to the Musicians Emergency Relief Fund.
Motion made and carried to approve an initial purchase of 25 copies of the DVD. Opposed: Schwartz.
Board member Schaffner excused at 3:50 p.m.
Principal Theatre Representative Donovan appeared before the Board and presented an agreement with Inside Broadway.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.
Dennison distributed the minutes of February 6, 2007.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.
Dennison distributed the minutes of February 20, 2007.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.
Meeting adjourned at 3:55 p.m.