TUESDAY, MARCH, 6 2001

Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Landolfi, Shankin and Weiss, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. Financial Vice-President Hafemeister excused for personal reasons.

Feb. 20 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

Executive Board member Rohdin present at 12:00 p.m.

Assistant to the President Dennison reported that AFM Director Mark Heter, who oversees immigration visa requests, had called the Immigration and Naturalization Service for information regarding the Sinfonia Varsovia’s visa request (see Feb. 20 minutes). The INS informed him that the request had been sent to the appropriate panel with a recommendation to reject. Congressman Nadler’s office, when queried about this, said the INS had reported to them that no visa for that group was listed in the INS computer.

Dennison reported that Local 802 and the producers of Naked Boys Singing negotiated a new three-year agreement with substantial wage raises and other improvements. The contract is being finalized and will then be submitted by Senior Business Rep Donovan for approval.

Discussion held on leaves of absence in the theatre. The board examined Local 802 bylaws – Article IX Subdivision #4, rule 15, Subdivision #5, rule 26 – in relation to current policy for granting leaves of absence and publishing them in the minutes and Allegro. It was agreed to extend this discussion to the Theatre Committee for its input.

Executive Board member Giannini present at 12:25 p.m.

Public Relations Director Beaudoin appeared before the board to explain and discuss the Bread and Roses “Unseen America” project, which was created to teach workers how to document their own lives by using photography. A professional photographer will teach a class of a group of workers, in this case musicians, for two to three hours a week, for eight to 10 weeks. Members will be taught the technical side of photography and the creative process it entails. Galleries have already committed to show the work this summer. The Bread and Roses Project will present a group show to kick off the project in May and then have each union/community group exhibit in its own gallery space. Time-Life has agreed to pay for the cost of all developing, including negatives and prints. Professional photographer Frances Miller, who is also NYS Senator Tom Duane’s chief of staff, has agreed to teach the Local 802 class without compensation. Local 802 would pay for film, at a cost of about $350 for 100 rolls. Members would provide their own cameras or Local 802 would purchase 35mm cameras for $40 each. Total cost of the project should be no more than $500. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request for participation in the project at a cost not to exceed $500. Beaudoin excused.

Price distributed the Cornell Labor Studies schedule for spring 2001.

Motion made and carried unanimously that Aubrey Gaby, clerical in the President’s office and assistant to the Public Relations Director, attend a Cornell Labor Studies seminar on public relations and union communications on March 22 and 23, at a cost of $225. The board will request the CAC to approve and fund this expense in accordance with the bylaws.

A request was submitted by Moriarity on behalf of the New York Philharmonic for permission to broadcast 26 one-hour local radio broadcasts on WQXR of regularly scheduled concerts. The payment for each musician would be 1.5 percent of weekly salary plus a 10 percent AFM & EPF contribution per broadcast. This request has the orchestra committee’s recommendation. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Moriarity reported on the status of various items on the agenda in negotiations with the Metropolitan Opera: pension, archival recordings and terms and conditions of a tour to St. Petersburg, Russia.

Moriarity reported on a self-contained non-theatrical production entitled Blast that will have drummers, brass players, twirlers and flag bearers on stage in a choreographed, highly structured presentation. Questions were raised concerning payment for a stage performance, choreography and the substitution clause in the League agreement. Discussion held.

Dennison submitted a letter Local 802 had sent in 1986 to a member who was seeking to become an honor member (see Feb. 27 minutes). The member was given the correct information but apparently misinterpreted it. After discussion it was agreed to accept his application for honor membership status retroactive to 1991 at his then age of 70, which would allow him to keep the insurance benefit. The overpayment will be used only to credit his current and future annual dues, with no cash refund to be made at any time. Motion made and carried unanimously to declare the member to have honor status retroactive to 1991, as outlined above.

Assistant Director Lennon reported that the Three Irish Tenors event on Ellis Island is scheduled for this evening. Tickets for the event at $200 are available through Ticketmaster. (See below.)

Business Rep Natasha Jackson appeared at the board to present an agreement with Mayah Publishing/Ahmad Jamal. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Meeting recessed at 1:20 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:30 p.m.

Present: Moriarity, Price, Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Rohdin, Shankin, Weiss, Dennison, Lennon, Owens.

Lennon submitted a request from the Mark Morris Dance Group for permission to videotape three performances – March 9, 16 and 23 – for archival purposes only. This is a dance company that has always used live music for its performances. Motion made and carried unanimously to grant the request, with the usual proviso that the musicians must approve by a two-thirds secret ballot vote and a proviso that the tape cannot be used to replace live musicians.

Motion made and carried unanimously to purchase four tickets at $125 each, for a total of $500, for the Long Island Federation of Labor Dinner Dance on April 6. Local 802 Long Island Supervisor Gulluscio and Senior Business Rep Voccola to attend this event.

Motion made and carried unanimously to purchase a full-page ad in the AFM 2001 convention journal at $400.

Feb. 27 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

Dennison, as Supervisor of the Jazz Department, submitted a recommendation that Business Rep Jackson be advanced in status to Senior Business Representative with the commensurate increase in salary in accordance with the OUR agreement, effective retroactively to Jan. 2. Dennison reviewed Jackson’s work record and accomplishments to support his recommendation. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Assistant Supervisor of Recording Schaffner appeared at the board to report on a nonunion recording engagement that became a union session with an AFM signatory after his intervention. He then detailed the operation of the recording and checks distribution departments under his supervision. Discussion held, during which the board directed Schaffner and Lennon to purchase tickets to attend the Three Irish Tenors concert and PBS taping scheduled to take place that evening, to determine which musicians or orchestra will perform and if possible to obtain an AFM signatory agreement. Motion made and carried unanimously to purchase two tickets to the event at $200, for a total of $400.

Discussion held on other PBS series that used music but had not been covered under any AFM agreements, including the various Ken Burns series on jazz, baseball and the Civil War.

Meeting adjourned at 4:12 p.m.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2001

Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Reynolds and Shankin, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens.

March 6 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

Discussion held on the Three Irish Tenors concert on Ellis Island. Assistant Supervisor of National Contracts Schaffner and Assistant Director Lennon attended the concert – which was performed with the Sinfonia Varsovia as the accompanying orchestra – to demand AFM signatory status or to get an agreement from the producers, TV Matters, to pay area standards for wages and benefits. The producers refused to sign. The concert was videotaped for PBS station WLIW/Channel 21 and was also shown on WNET/Channel 13. President Moriarity reviewed with the board all the actions initiated by the union and the AFM to have the orchestra members’ visa applications denied by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. These efforts included a request by Congressman Jerrold Nadler asking the INS to refuse to issue the visas. Moriarity sent an email asking members and staff to make telephone calls to WLIW during their pledge drive, objecting to the importation of the Sinfonia Varsovia and to subsequent payment to the musicians of wages much below area standards. (See more below.) Further discussion ensued.

Price reported to the board that he had granted the following leaves of absence:

1. Anthony Cecere, from the Broadway production Beauty and the Beast, from Feb. 20-27, for personal reasons.
2. Clinton de Ganon, from the Broadway production The Rocky Horror Show, from March 8-11, to work out of town.
3. James Pugh, from the Broadway production Fosse, from March 9-April 1, for personal reasons.

Financial Vice-President Hafemeister reported that Director of New Organizing Dubnau had resigned effective March 30, 2001.

Hafemeister submitted a request for a one-year Media Project Specialist for a media design project. The project involves creating new written materials and improving existing materials to supply brochures and other written materials for external campaigns including organizing, corporate and contract campaigns, as well as membership education campaigns. The job would be part-time, and the proposed fee will be $5,000. Discussion held, during which it was noted that this job will be posted in the building. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request as outlined with a salary of $5,000.

Meeting recessed at 1:00 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:15 p.m.

Present: Moriarity, Price, Hafemeister, Blumenthal, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin, Bogert, Dennison, Owens.

Moriarity informed the board that a new bylaw book should be published in accordance with AFM Bylaw Article 5(34) that mandates a new printing of the bylaws every five years. He distributed quotes submitted by Rich Meyers of Sterling Forms. Discussion held and decision deferred pending the receipt of further information.

Lennon present at 2:30 p.m.

Moriarity submitted a request from the producers of the Tony Awards to allow clip use of Broadway productions on the PBS show that will air one hour prior to the CBS-TV show. Each musician whose performance appears in the program would be paid $55, plus a 10 percent contribution to the AFM & Employers Pension Fund. This request is the same as in previous years. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

The AFM had requested reimbursement from Local 802 for strike benefits paid to the Pamphlet B touring orchestra musicians who participated in the theatre strike in Florida against SFX-PTG Florida, Inc. The AFM had previously paid Local 802’s share of $4,600 for four weeks of benefits, three weeks of the show Fosse and one week of The Phantom of the Opera. The AFM is paying an additional amount for airfare and other expenses to facilitate the musicians’ return to work, and suggested that Local 802 pay $1,000 of this amount. Motion made and carried unanimously to pay the $4,600 strike benefit and $1,000 to facilitate the musicians’ return to work.

Former Manager of Information Systems Jennifer Cronin appeared at the board with Gene Maynard, Local 802’s new Manager of Information Systems, whom she introduced to the board. After expressions of thanks to Cronin and welcome to Maynard, they were excused.

Board member Weiss present at 2:48 p.m.

Moriarity reviewed the recent negotiations with Metropolitan Opera management regarding the regular orchestra (see minutes of Feb. 13 and 27 and March 6). Moriarity discussed several letters that had been exchanged between the orchestra’s legal counsel, Susan Martin, and management with reference to the negotiations. Martin had been invited to appear at the board to discuss the pension negotiations. Local 802 legal counsel Archer had been sent all the communications in order to advise the local in this matter. Discussion held.

Motion made and carried unanimously to purchase two tickets at $175, for a total of $350, to the Village Independent Democrats Annual Awards Dinner that will present its Labor Award to President Moriarity.

A request was received from the Actors’ Work Program for a contribution. Emergency Relief Fund Trustees Moriarity and Price voted to donate $2,000 to this program from the ERF.

Motion made and carried unanimously to contribute $250 from TEMPO802 to NYC Council candidate Bernice Siegal.

Bogert, Dennison and Lennon excused while the board held executive session.

The board resumed regular session.

Senior Business Rep Donovan appeared before the board to present a contract with the Vineyard Theatre and Workshop Company, Inc., for all productions of the company. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Donovan presented an agreement with the Utown LLC c/o ARACA Group, Mike Rego, General Manager, for the production of a show entitled Urinetown at the American Theatre of Actors. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Hafemeister excused at 4:30 p.m.

Donovan presented an agreement with the Boy From Oz Project, Albert Poland, General Manager, for a reading production of The Boy From Oz at the New 42nd Street Studio. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve. Donovan excused.

Lennon and Dennison returned to the meeting. Assistant Supervisor Schaffner also present.

Dennison reported on the telephone discussion with WLIW about the Three Irish Tenors concert that had aired on the station the previous evening. WLIW indicated that they had no role in the show’s production.

Schaffner reported that a previously nonunion producer had signed an AFM industrial film agreement for seven sessions as a result of Local 802’s intervention (see Feb. 20 and March 6 minutes).

Discussion held on the next strategic planning session, scheduled for March 19.

Meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2001

Meeting called to order at 11:20 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Reynolds and Shankin, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens.

Discussion held on the upcoming Broadway show, Blast. (See March 6 minutes.)

President Moriarity advised the board that he had been requested by the NYS AFL-CIO/Cornell Union Leadership Institute to recommend candidates for a two-year union leadership program which will prepare them to serve as union officers. This program will entail attendance at classes and seminars during the summer and at other times of the year, and will require study, reading and submission of written reports and other material. Discussion held on the program and the candidates recommended by Moriarity: Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Assistant Director Lennon and Board member Giannini. The cost is $7,800 per candidate for a total of $23,400.

Motion made to approve the nomination of these three candidates to the program. Giannini excused at 12:15 p.m.

An amendment was made to expand the number of candidates to four. Opposed: Gale, Shankin, Reynolds, Crow, Price. Amendment falls.

Gale excused at 12:30 p.m.

Question called on the original motion.

Motion passed. Opposed: Landolfi, Reynolds.

After discussion, motion made and carried unanimously to reconsider the motion. Discussion held, during which the motion was revised to call on the board to institute a process to seek additional candidates to participate in the program next year.

The motion as revised was submitted and carried unanimously to approve the nomination of the three named candidates as submitted for the program at a cost of $7,800 per candidate. The board will institute a process to seek appropriate additional candidates to be chosen to participate in the program next year.

Meeting recessed at 1:10 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:25 p.m.

Present: Moriarity, Price, Hafemeister, Blumenthal, Crow, Landolfi, Reynolds, Shankin, Bogert, Dennison, Lennon, Weiss.

Recording Vice-President Price reported that the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) had made additional allocations available. Since the amount of money was unclear Price was directed to obtain accurate information and was excused to call the MPTF office for that information.

Moriarity initiated discussion on printing of the bylaws (see March 13 minutes). He presented samples of various formats and quotes for 1,000 copies. Discussion held. Owens present during the foregoing discussion. Motion made and carried to approve printing of the bylaws in three-ring-binder form at a cost of $3,670 for 1,000 copies. Opposed: Shankin and Reynolds.

Price returned to the meeting to report that the amount of MPTF funds to be reallocated would be $600,000. That amount was to be made available to selected locals, including Local 802, for approved new projects. It was noted that educational projects had priority and all requests would follow the usual guidelines but without the requirement for co-sponsorship.

Moriarity reported on a meeting attended by Public Relations Director Beaudoin, Assistant Supervisor of Recording Schaffner, Assistant Director Lennon, AFM Director of Travel and Touring Mark Heter, a representative of Rep. Joe Crowley and legal counsel for the Three Irish Tenors, Peter Thrall, to discuss the recent concert at Ellis Island (see minutes of Feb. 20, March 6 and March 13). The AFM and Local 802 sought a recognition agreement for a possible American tour and a Radio City Music Hall appearance to forestall a possible unfavorable publicity campaign.

Weiss excused at 3:15 p.m. during the previous report.

Dennison reported on a meeting with other entertainment unions and representatives of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), held under the auspices of the Department of Professional Employees, AFL-CIO, to discuss the importation of workers in the entertainment field to displace American workers by paying far lower wages than current area standards. Discussion held, during which Dennison suggested that members e-mail their U.S. Senators in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to protest the issuance of INS visas to these foreign workers.

Moriarity reported on several Broadway theatre matters. He noted that the arbitration award on Saturday Night Fever was due on this date.

Crow excused at 3:50 p.m.

Controller Bogert reviewed the 2000 year-end financial statements.

Moriarity reported that Susan Martin, legal counsel for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, would not be able to appear before the board as scheduled (see minutes of Jan. 9, Feb. 27 and March 13).

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the February 2001 vouchers.

Lennon submitted and reviewed an agreement with the Henry Street Chamber Opera. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Lennon submitted a request from the Long Island Masterworks Chorus and Orchestra for a grant application recording of an April 29 concert at Manhasset Congregational Church. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve, subject to a two-thirds secret ballot affirmative vote by the orchestra.

Lennon submitted a request from the Long Island Choral Festival and Institute for a grant application recording of its July 14 concert at the Tilles Center. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve with the usual proviso, as above.

Lennon reported that a recently hired business representative in the theatre and concert department had resigned from employment.

Dennison submitted a request from Inside Broadway for a grant application audio-video cassette recording of its performance of Sophisticated Ladies at Town Hall on March 21. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve, subject to a two-thirds secret ballot affirmative vote by the orchestra and to the signing by the employer of a Grant Application Agreement containing the normal 200 percenr penalty.

The AFM Theater Defense Fund submitted a request that Local 802 pay $1,500 for its share of strike benefits for five Pamphlet B touring musicians for the show Cabaret, being presented in the jurisdiction of Local 655, Miami, Fla. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve payment of $1,500 to the AFM Theater Defense Fund for five Local 802 striking musicians.

Moriarity reported that several public relations firms had been interviewed with regard to supervising and promoting the Live Music Campaign.

Meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.