TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2009

Meeting called to order at 12:30 p.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Fein, Giannini, Johansen, Norrell, Rizzo, Schwartz and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. 

Member Marc Ribot appeared before the Board and presented a proposal for a research study regarding the growth of small independent recording labels and the live performance work associated with these labels. Board members Roach and Schaffner present at 12:35 p.m. Board member Burridge present at 12:50 p.m. Ribot excused.

President of AFM Local 204-373 (New Brunswick, N.J.) and Local 802 member David Schneck appeared before the Board to discuss a recent AFM touring contract. Schneck excused.

Discussion held on the research proposal presented earlier by member Ribot.

Landolfi requested purchase of a ticket at a cost of $150 to a fund raising event in support of NY State Assembly member George Latimer. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request with the funds to come from TEMPO 802.

Landolfi requested a contribution of $250 to the Actors Fund of America in the name of recently deceased Local 802 Health Fund trustee Irving Cheskin. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Landolfi reported on a planned meeting with management of the Metropolitan Opera. Discussion held.

Landolfi reported on the status of negotiations with the New York City Ballet.

Blumenthal requested a standard annual 3 percent salary increases for several Local 802 staff members. Board member Schaffner excused at 2:50 p.m. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request. Board member Schaffner present at 2:55p.m.

Blumenthal reported that Local 802 had been notified that Blue Cross was proposing an increase of 15 percent in staff hospitalization costs, a portion of which is paid by Local 802. Discussion held during which Blumenthal was asked to contact Blue Cross to discuss the proposed rate increase.

Blumenthal reported that the Miami City Ballet had canceled the engagement of members of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s for an upcoming performance at City Center in New York City.

Blumenthal reported that he had been contacted by attorneys representing the American Ballet Theatre.

The Board’s financial subcommittee recommended that the Board reaffirm their earlier decision to engage Morgan-Stanley as the union’s investment advisor. (See minutes of September 16, 2008.) Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the recommendation.

Local 802 Counsel Mars appeared before the Board for a discussion of e-mails distributed by member David Finck, the officers’ response to those e-mails and member Finck’s request for access to union publications to further respond. Discussion held. Landolfi and Schaffner excused at 3:25 p.m. to participate in a conference call concerning the New York City Ballet negotiations. Counsel Mars excused.

Dennison requested payment of an invoice in the amount of $3,000 for installation of emergency exit lights in the Local 802 headquarters building as per the recommendation of the architect engaged by Local 802 to assist with the Certificate of Occupancy permit required by the City of New York. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request. Board member Rizzo excused at 3:55 p.m.

Assistant to the President Lefevre appeared before the Board and requested the expenditure of up to $2,200 to fund the production of printed material and a bus to Albany to lobby against proposed cuts in the NY State arts budget. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request with the funds to be paid from the public relations budget. Lefevre excused.

Meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m. 

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2009

Meeting called to order at 11:00 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Fein, Giannini, Johansen, Norrell, Roach, and Schwartz. 

Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of December 23, 2008. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes.

Dennison distributed the minutes of January 6, 2009. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.

Schaffner present at 11:10 a.m. President Landolfi requested affirmation of a phone poll approving the purchase of an ad co-sponsored by the AFM in the Latin Grammy awards program at a cost of $500. The phone poll was unanimous. Motion made and carried unanimously to affirm the phone poll.

President Landolfi requested affirmation of a phone poll approving the collective bargaining agreement with the New York City Ballet. The phone poll was unanimous. Motion and carried unanimously to affirm the phone poll.

Board member Rizzo present at 11:20 a.m. Discussion held on the New York City Ballet agreement.

Landolfi requested a contribution of $150 to the Tom Geoghegan for Congress campaign from TEMPO 802. Geoghegan is running for the Illinois Congressional seat being vacated by Presidential-Elect Obama’s Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Landolfi reported on recent discussions with the AFM Touring and Booking Department regarding a recent orchestra tour in New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.

Landolfi reported on follow up discussions with the Local 802 organizing department regarding a proposed research study on potential organizing efforts aimed at independent recording labels and live performance work. (See minutes of January 6, 2009.) Discussion held.

Landolfi presented an agreement with Inside Broadway. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement. 

Landolfi reported on the status of discussions with the League of American Theatres and Producers regarding a proposal on the promotional use of captured material from Broadway productions.

Financial Vice President Blumenthal reported on communications with Blue Cross regarding staff hospitalization insurance rates.

Blumenthal reported on discussions with the Miami City Ballet.

Blumenthal reported that a tentative agreement had been reached with the Orchestra of St Luke’s.

Dennison reported on some staff personnel issues.

Local 802 Counsel Mars appeared before the Board and presented an agreement with New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.

Mars distributed a memorandum to the Board regarding a Local 802 member’s assertion of their rights under the Supreme Court’s decision in Communications Workers of America v. Beck. Discussion held. Mars distributed a memorandum to the Board regarding a union member’s rights to present his/her views in union publications. Discussion held.

Landolfi requested approval of a budget totaling $12,713.20 to cover the cost of four Local 802 participants in the AFM Motion Picture and TV Film Agreement negotiations scheduled for February 18 to February 27, 2009 in Los Angeles, CA. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Meeting adjourned at 1:10 p.m.