Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Meeting called to order at 11:10 AM. Present: President Gagliardi, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Recording Vice President O’Connor, Executive Board members Covo, Dougherty, Hyde, Roach, Sharman, Assistant to the President Donovan.

It was moved and seconded to approve the April 26 minutes as corrected. Motion carried unanimously.

President Gagliardi reported on negotiations between Cirque du Soleil and the Quebec Musicians Guild of which Gagliardi has been party to, specifically in respect to wages and benefits paid on work done in Local 802’s jurisdiction. Discussion held.

Gagliardi reported on scheduled auditions for Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira (OSB), which are being boycotted by the Federation Internationale des Musiciens (FIM) and which Local 802 is requesting its members to refrain from taking part because of the orchestra’s unfair dismissal of half its orchestra members. Discussion held.

Financial Vice President Blumenthal reported on a grievance with the Village Light Opera Guild that has been filed at the arbitration step of the grievance procedure.

Blumenthal reported on a New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players arbitration.

Blumenthal reported that the New York Pops orchestra members voted to waive the intermission requirement for a two-hour performance planned for a September 11 memorial service on a one-time non-precedent-setting basis. Overtime would commence if the service goes beyond two hours. (See minutes from 3/22/11.)

Blumenthal reported on an inquiry from a member who is contracting an engagement at the Hammerstein Ballroom in the New Yorker Hotel on June 16 as to whether the single engagement scale would be appropriate for the engagement. Discussion held.

Recording Vice President O’Connor reported on the Music Performance Trust Funds (MPTF) plans to provide funding to the New York Grand Opera for public performances in Central Park and this year’s Broadway on Broadway performance. Discussion held.

O’Connor reported on the state of Legit 802, Inc. Discussion held.

Blumenthal reported on a panel discussion sponsored by WQXR Radio on future modes for U.S. symphonic orchestras to take place this evening (5/3) on which AFM President Ray Hair will be a panelist. Discussion held.

Gagliardi announced the filling of the position of Political and Public Relations Director at Local 802. Discussion held.

Local 802 Broadway Representative Copeland present. Local 802 Controller Goldman present. Copeland presented a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between Local 802 and four non-profit theatres: Second Stage Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, New York Shakespeare Festival and New York Theatre Workshop. Discussion held. Copeland excused.

Goldman distributed financials for March 2011. Discussion held. Goldman excused.

It was moved and seconded to approve the CBA between Local 802 and the above non-profit theatres. Motion carried unanimously.

O’Connor reported on the Council for Living Music’s (CLM) advertising budget for the Save Live Music on Broadway campaign. Discussion held. It was moved and seconded to contribute $34,000 to the CLM for Save Live Music on Broadway costs to be paid from the public relations budget. Discussion held. Motion carried unanimously. Discussion held on the Save Live Music on Broadway campaign.

Executive Board member Sharman reported on the Local 802 softball team season thus far. Discussion held. It was moved and seconded to spend up to $1,500 to purchase additional softball jerseys (for an additional team) to be paid from the public relations budget. Discussion held. Motion carried unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m.

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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Meeting called to order at 11:08 AM. Present: P`resident Gagliardi, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Covo, Dougherty, Hyde, Roach, Schwartz, Sharman, Assistant to the President Donovan. Sharman took the minutes.

It was moved and seconded to table the May 3 minutes until the next Executive Board meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

Gagliardi distributed copies of a tri-partite Letter of Agreement between The Guilde Des Musiciens et Musiciennes du Quebec Inc. (Local Section 406 of the American Federation of Musicians), Local 802, and Cirque du Soleil Inc., which applies to the musicians performing in the production Zarkana of the Cirque at Radio City Music Hall for the duration of each run there and to remain in force until December 31, 2015. Discussion held.It was moved and seconded to approve the above Letter of Agreement. Motion carried unanimously.

Gagliardi reported on the commencement of the Local 802 live music initiative and the debut of the live music campaign Web site, SaveLiveMusicOnBroadway.com. Discussion held.

Local 802 Public Relations and Political Director Boyle present. Gagliardi introduced recently appointed Local 802 Political and Public Relations Director Kevin C. (K.C.) Boyle to the Executive Board. Discussion held. Boyle excused.

Discussion held on new audio-visual equipment for the Executive Board room.

Discussion held on the recent decision of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (The Recording Academy) to restructure the Grammy categories for 2012.

Gagliardi excused 12:04 on union business. Blumenthal chaired the meeting. Blumenthal distributed materials pertaining to liability protection for Directors and Officers. Gagliardi present 12:08.

Gagliardi informed the Board of the return engagement of the Broadway production “Elf,” formerly performed at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, to be performed this year at the Marriott Marquis Theatre. Discussion held.

Gagliardi excused 12:11 for union business. Discussion of liability protection for Directors and Officers resumed.

Blumenthal distributed a copy of an email pertaining to a Local 802 member asking our local to pass a resolution, similar to one recently passed by Local 47 (Los Angeles), condemning The Recording Academy’s restructuring of the Grammy categories for 2012. Discussion held.

Local 802 counsel Mars present. Discussion of liability protection for Directors and Officers resumed. Mars excused.

Discussion of The Recording Academy’s restructuring of the GRAMMY categories for 2012 resumed.

Blumenthal presented a request from the New York City Central Labor Council for Local 802 to participate in their annual Labor Day traditional solidarity march and parade up Fifth Avenue on September 10, 2011. Discussion held.

Blumenthal informed the Board of an announcement by the Theatre Development Fund’s (TDF) launching of their Autism Theatre Initiative, making live theatre accessible to autistic children and adults and their families, with their first ever autism-friendly performance of a Broadway musical, Disney’s The Lion King. Discussion held.

Donovan distributed membership mobilization forms to be used in the Live Music Campaign. Discussion held. Covo excused 1:16.

Blumenthal reported on the upcoming auditions in New York City for Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira (OSB) whereby Local 802 has requested its members to refuse to take part (see minutes of May 3, 2011).

Meeting adjourned at 1:24 p.m.

This story originally appeared in the September 2011 issue of Allegro, the magazine of the New York City musicians’ union (AFM Local 802). For reprint requests, send an e-mail to editor Mikael Elsila at Allegro@Local802afm.org.