Allegro
Executive Board Minutes
October 30, 2007 -- November 27, 2007
Volume CVIII, No. 1January, 2008
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2007
Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Fein, Giannini, Hunt, Rizzo, Roach and Schwartz.
Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of October 23, 2007.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.
President Landolfi requested a contribution of $250 to the New York Brass Conference for Scholarships for the funding of a scholarship in the name of Local 802 Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Jimmy Owens.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Local 802 Counsel Mars present for a discussion of the freelance concert negotiations.
Board member Schaffner present at 11:20 a.m.
Discussion held.
Mars excused.
Landolfi reported on the status of Local 1, IATSE negotiations with the League of American Theatres and Producers.
Landolfi presented an agreement covering a production of “3 Mo Tenors” at the Little Schubert Theatre.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.
Landolfi presented revised archival agreements. (See minutes of October 23, 2007.)
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreements.
Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens present at 12:00 p.m.
Landolfi requested that Local 802 continue its support of Tenants and Neighbors through the purchase of a one-half page ad at a cost of $650 in a tribute journal honoring NY City Council President Christine Quinn.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Motion made and carried unanimously that any advertisement of an audition being purchased for publication in Allegro that was not timely due to Allegro deadlines would be posted on the 802 Web site and included in the Local 802 Notes e-mail communications.
Schaffner reported on a settlement reached with EMI and New School University for payment of musicians, many of them students in the New School’s Jazz and Contemporary Music Program, whose performances were included on an EMI issued commercial recording.
Motion made and carried unanimously to offer the organizing discount to any of the musicians involved in this EMI recording project who are not currently Local 802 members for the period November 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007.
Blumenthal requested approval of budgeted salary increases for several non-bargaining unit staff members.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Blumenthal distributed the September 2007 and the January 2007 to September 2007 Local 802 financials.
Discussion held.
Blumenthal presented a request from the Local 802 Computer Department that 802’s internet connection be upgraded to a T-1 line with an expected increase in monthly costs of up to $125.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the Honor Membership Bylaw as submitted for the October membership meeting.
Dennison reported on the status of Legit 802 Inc.
Dennison reported that the Orthodox Club Date employer Schloime Dachs had signed the Local 802 Jewish Club Date contract.
Concert Representative Fisher appeared before the Board and presented a Memorandum of Agreement with Musica Viva Inc.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement subject to ratification by the bargaining unit.
Fisher reported on a communication from the Musica Viva orchestra committee.
Discussion held.
Fisher excused.
Dennison requested approval for the purchase of 10 tables and 100 chairs for the Club Room to replace old and damaged furniture at a cost of $2,971.99.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Schaffner reported on proposed language regarding cross-promotional uses of the “Grease” Broadway cast album to be included in that AFM Industrial Promotional Agreement.
Discussion held.
Motion made and carried to recommend that the AFM approve the proposed language as amended regarding cross-promotional use of the “Grease” Broadway Cast Album. Opposed: Schwartz.
Schaffner reported on the new AFM TV and Radio Commercial Announcements Agreement and distributed data on contracts filed under the terms of that agreement between 2000 and 2007.
Discussion held.
Meeting adjourned at 1:50 p.m.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2007
Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Fein, Giannini, Rizzo, Schwartz and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. Local 802 Counsel Engelstein, Organizing Director LeFevre and Public Relations/Political Action Director Smith present.
Landolfi reported that Marissa Friedman had been appointed Broadway Representative.
Board member Schaffner present at 11:10 a.m.
Landolfi reported on the status of the strike by Broadway Stagehands, members of Local 1, International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), its impact on Local 802 members employed on Broadway and distributed a grievance letter prepared by Counsel regarding wages that may be owed musicians by Theatres and Producers for shows that were canceled as a result of the strike.
Discussion held.
Motion made and carried unanimously to pursue a grievance over lost wages due musicians as a result of the Stagehands strike.
Engelstein reported on discussions with Live Nation, the new owners of the North Fork Theatre on Long Island, formerly Westbury Music Fair.
Discussion held.
Motion made and carried unanimously that for the next two weeks loss of work benefits shall be paid from the Local 802 Strike Fund to musicians who have lost employment as a result of the Stagehands strike according to the following formula: For regular and substitute musicians loss of work benefits shall be paid in the amount of $30/show for each show that a musician was scheduled to work provided that the musician pickets for one hour at each of the scheduled shows. If the musician pickets for a minimum of three shows, the $30 per show payment will be made for each of their scheduled shows up to a maximum of eight shows per week.
Meeting recessed at 1:15 p.m.
Meeting resumed at 2:10 p.m. Present: Landolfi, Blumenthal, Dennison, Burridge, Fein, Giannini, Rizzo, Schwartz and Owens.
Landolfi reported that because of added demand the Musicians Assistance Program would be expanding their hours and that the cost of the added hours would be shared equally by the Emergency Relief Fund (ERF) and the Local 802 General Fund. Following the ERF’s current fund raising cycle this cost sharing would be reviewed.
Schaffner present at 2:15 pm.
Landolfi requested payment of legal expenses for the period January 1, 2007 through September 30, in the amount of $44,769.99 to the firm of Levy, Ratner, Berhoozi, P.C. for hours of work beyond the terms of the retainer agreement.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Members Andrew Lippa and Howard Joines appeared before the Board and requested that 30 minutes of the music, which was currently being utilized in the Broadway production of “The Farnsworth Invention” be issued as a commercial recording provided that all of the musicians involved in the recording are paid under the terms of the Limited Pressing Agreement.
Discussion held.
Dennison excused at 2:45 pm. Board member Rizzo took the minutes.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Landolfi presented a workshop agreement for “Shrek” with Dreamworks Animation.
Discussion held.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.
Landolfi requested the expenditure of up to $5,000 for the Local 802 Holiday Party to be held on Wednesday, December 19th.
Discussion held.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Landolfi and Recording Department Supervisor Schaffner reported on their attendance at the AFM Electronic Media Policy Summit Meeting on November 10th and 11th in Washington, D.C.
LeFevre present.
Blumenthal reported on the status of work upgrading the Local 802 Web site.
Discussion held.
LeFevre excused.
Blumenthal requested approval for the payment of staff bonuses in the same amounts as prior years.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request. Schaffner recused.
Blumenthal requested approval of a 3 percent salary increase for a non-bargaining unit employee.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Landolfi reported on efforts by Counsel Mars to recover wages owed by Jordan Belkin and Martin Bell (see minutes of January 24, 2006) and requested approval to file an affidavit and confession of judgment in regard to money owed.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Landolfi requested that Local 802 affiliate with the New York Production Alliance, a group of unions, organizations and companies involved in the New York film industry, at a cost of $1,500 per year.
Discussion held.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Landolfi reported on her attendance at a Cornell University sponsored seminar titled Future Prospects for Media and Performing Arts in New York State.
Meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2007
Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. Present: Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Fein, Giannini, Hunt, Johansen, Rizzo, Roach, Schaffner, Schwartz, and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. President Landolfi and Recording Vice President Dennison excused on union business. Blumenthal chaired the meeting. Rizzo took the minutes.
Secretary Treasurer Leslie Lashinsky of AFM Local 47, Los Angeles appeared before the Board and participated in a discussion of various issues affecting Local 802 and Local 47 including the current Writers’ Guild strike, changes in the entertainment industry, the impact of new forms of media and the response of the AFM and its various locals.
Discussion held.
Lashinsky excused at 12:15 p.m.
Financial Vice President Blumenthal distributed the minutes of October 30, 2007.
President Landolfi and Recording Vice President Dennison present at 12:20 p.m.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.
Landolfi reported on her and Dennison’s attendance that morning at a meeting of the Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds locals regarding the current strike by members of Local 1, IATSE.
Discussion held.
Landolfi presented an agreement for a reading of “Angry Housewives.”
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.
Landolfi requested payment of Local 802’s annual dues to the Metro New York Health Care for All Campaign.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request
Dennison requested the expenditure of $2,236.85 to re-stock the union’s supply of Local 802 T-shirts.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Dennison requested approval of the expenditure of $7,502 for repair of ceiling on the 6th floor of the Local 802 headquarters building.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
MIS Director Ibrahim and Computer Network Supervisor Kayne appeared before the Board and distributed information and costs regarding an upgrade of the union’s software to Microsoft Office 2007 along with the purchase and installation of appropriate and needed hardware including, new servers and backup drives with appropriate switches and racks.
Motion made and carried to purchase Hewlett Packard servers at the prices quoted in the materials provided with the installation to be performed by the company that currently maintains Local 802’s hardware at a total cost of up $42,754. Opposed: Schwartz
Blumenthal requested a review of Local 802 General Fund investments.
Landolfi requested that the Executive Board’s Financial Review Committee conduct such a review of the union’s investments and report back to the Board.
Meeting adjourned at 2:20 p.m.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2007
Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge Fein, Giannini, Hunt, Johansen, Rizzo, Roach, Schaffner, Schwartz and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens.
Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of November 13, 2007.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.
President Landolfi reported on the status of Local 1, IATSE negotiations and that Local 802 had received a check in the amount of $83,750 from the Local 1 Defense Fund to supplement loss of work benefits for Local 802 members out of work due to the closing of Broadway Theatres.
Discussion held.
Motion made and carried unanimously to immediately pay out the funds received from the Local 1 Defense Fund to Broadway musicians at the rate of $25 for each show lost from November 10, 2007 through November 18, 2007.
Landolfi requested the purchase of an electronic security system for the Local 802 headquarters building to improve building security at a cost of $3,300.
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.
Financial Vice President Blumenthal reported on the status of freelance concert negotiations.
Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of November 20, 2007
Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.
Meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m.