Allegro

Executive Board Minutes

December 18, 2001 -- January 22, 2002

Volume CII, No. 3March, 2002

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2001

Meeting called to order at 11:22 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. Financial Vice-President Hafemeister excused to attend negotiations.

Dec. 11 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

President Moriarity reported that the agreement covering the New School jazz faculty had been ratified: 37 for, one against.

Moriarity reported that Local 802 will contribute payment for Sue Terry’s quartet for the NY Catholic Teachers’ Union rally on Dec. 20. The public service scale will apply, for a cost of $725.

Request received from the contractor for a single engagement club date that will be performed at the Metropolitan Opera House to address the issue of payment for rehearsals scheduled to take place on a day other than the day of the performance. An orchestra of 65 musicians has been engaged for a three-hour rehearsal, which will be followed by another rehearsal utilizing only five of those musicians, together with an additional five musicians. The request was that the employer be allowed to make overtime payments only to those actually performing overtime. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request as submitted.

Moriarity reported that an agreement had been reached with Jazz at Lincoln Center, Inc. Senior Business Rep Jackson will submit the agreement later in the meeting.

Price submitted a request from the computer department to purchase a software package for the EMDCS Data System Back-End Server. Manager of Information Systems Albert Cardillo, who had prepared the proposal, appeared before the board to explain and discuss the request for a Microsoft SQL Server at a cost of $5,000. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Discussion held on an increase in salary for an employee. The board recommended that the officer in charge of the department meet with the supervisor for further input.

Moriarity reported that a meeting had been held with the orchestra of the Broadway show Aida to discuss an AFM agreement on promotional use of the cast album in commercial jingles to advertise the show in various media.

Financial Vice-President Hafemeister present at 12:47 p.m.

Moriarity reported that a meeting had been held with the orchestra of the Broadway show The Producers to tell them that the first step grievance regarding a claim for overtime that had been filed with the League had been denied. (See Dec. 11 minutes.)

Motion made and carried unanimously to pay $200 to renew Local 802’s organizational membership in NYS Tenants and Neighbor Coalition.

Moriarity reported on the status of a dismissal at the New York Philharmonic and another at a Broadway theater. Discussion held.

Weiss excused at 1:00 p.m.

Financial Vice-President Hafemeister reported on the status of negotiations with the Long Island Philharmonic Orchestra management.

Meeting recessed at 1:10 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:30 p.m.

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

Senior Business Rep Jackson appeared before the board to submit a contract with Seven Strings Ltd. (John Pizzarelli) for employment of musicians. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Jackson submitted a contract with Jazz at Lincoln Center, Inc. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve. Jackson excused at 3:00 p.m.

Price excused at 3:00 p.m. The taking of the minutes was continued by Controller Bogert.

Senior Business Rep Donovan appeared before the board to present an agreement between Local 802 and The Last 5 Years, L.L.C., for the production of a show entitled The Last 5 Years at the Minetta Lane Theatre, covering the period Jan. 14, 2001, through Jan. 13, 2003. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Moriarity reported that a signed agreement had been obtained for a Philip Glass recording engagement held during the week of Dec. 10, 2001. Discussion held.

Hafemeister reported on the results of a telephone poll of the board which unanimously approved the use by the St. Cecilia Orchestra of one minute of an archival tape in a radio interview that promoted upcoming performances of the chorus and orchestra. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to affirm the telephone poll, subject to a meeting with the orchestra to discuss the reasons for the board’s approval.

Meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.


TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2002

Meeting called to order at 11:15 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Reynolds, Rohdin and Shankin, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon.

Dec. 18 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

The board greeted Assistant Director David Lennon’s return to the meetings after his absence due to illness.

President Moriarity reported on Broadway theatre matters.

Board member Weiss present at 11:45 a.m.

Assistant to the President Dennison reported on the season’s Broadway theatre statistics: the number of shows playing, those that had closed, and possible new productions that may be opening.

President Moriarity reported that the Catholic teachers’ rally at which Sue Terry’s quartet had been scheduled to perform had been canceled, due to the teachers’ return to work pending an agreement with the diocese (see Dec. 18 minutes). Discussion held regarding payment for the engagement.

The union had been notified of the dismissal of one musician in each of the following orchestras: New York Philharmonic, NYC Ballet and one Broadway show. Discussion held.

Financial Vice-President Hafemeister reported on the meeting she had held with the St. Cecilia Orchestra as per the board’s directive (see Dec. 18 minutes) to explain the board’s agreement with the request for the use of one minute’s previously-recorded material for promotional purposes. Hafemeister also reported on the status of freelance orchestra negotiations.

The board discussed the timetable for submitting a proposed bylaw relating to emergency powers. Also discussed was the current status of the building fund.

Moriarity read a letter from former union president John Glasel in which he thanked the board for recognition of his efforts in purchasing the union headquarters.

Motion made and carried unanimously to pay $10,543.93 for costs of various Broadway promotional materials, including Christmas cards mailed to union and legislative leaders and postcards and advertising buttons that were distributed by musicians at all theatres.

Assistant Supervisor of National Contracts Schaffner appeared before the board to discuss various proposals for the upcoming AFM Motion Picture negotiations, to be held in Los Angeles in February 2002.

Reynolds excused at 12:45 p.m.

Motion made and carried unanimously to submit the proposals for discussion and input from the RMA. Schaffner directed to report back to the board.

Discussion held on the time frame for attendees at the film negotiations, who will include Schaffner, Moriarity, Hafemeister and Price. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve travel expenses incurred for the film negotiations.

Former Executive Board member and New York Supreme Court Justice Ben Altman appeared before the board for a brief visit and was introduced to all present.

Meeting recessed at 1:10 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:25 p.m.

Present: Moriarity, Price, Hafemeister, Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Rohdin, Shankin, Weiss, Bogert, Lennon.

Controller Bogert distributed the financial reports for November 2001, which he reviewed and discussed with the board. Reynolds present at 2:35 p.m. during the foregoing.

Bogert distributed vouchers for Dec. 31, 2001.

Moriarity reported that the “truth in advertising” bill, which Local 802 had submitted previously to the New York City Council but which had not been passed, will be reintroduced in this Council session.

Moriarity reported that he had received a letter from Cornell University seeking additional Local 802 candidates for the NYS AFL-CIO/Cornell University Union Leadership Program. Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board member Giannini and Assistant Director Lennon are currently enrolled in the program, which commenced in the summer of 2001. Hafemeister, Lennon and Giannini each reported on their participation and gave an assessment of the program. Discussion held.

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

  1. John Korba, from the Broadway production The Rocky Horror Show, from Nov. 2-14, to work out of town.
  2. Ted Baker, from the Broadway production The Lion King, from Nov. 17-Dec. 9, to perform on tour.
  3. Jeffrey Carney, from the Broadway production Beauty and the Beast, from Dec. 22, 2001-Jan. 6, 2002, for personal reasons.
  4. Robert Carlisle, from the Broadway production Beauty and the Beast, from Nov. 28, 2001-Feb. 23, 2002, to perform with the NYC Ballet, with the proviso that he not substitute in Beauty and the Beast during that period.
  5. Tommy Igoe, from the Broadway production The Lion King, from Nov. 24-Dec. 6, to perform on tour.
  6. Valerie Naranjo, from the Broadway production The Lion King, from Dec. 12-20, 2001, and from Jan. 10-12, 2002, to rehearse and perform with the Paul Winter Consort, with the proviso that she not substitute in The Lion King during those periods.
  7. Ashley Horne, from the Broadway production The Producers, from Dec. 26-31, for personal reasons.
  8. Veronica Salas, from the Broadway production The Phantom of the Opera, from Dec. 20, 2001-Jan. 9, 2002, for personal reasons.
  9. Paul Faulise, from the Broadway production Beauty and the Beast, from Jan. 16-27, for personal reasons.
  10. Tony Kadleck, from the Broadway production Beauty and the Beast, from the evening of Dec. 12 through the afternoon of Dec. 23, for personal reasons.
  11. Cubby O’Brien, from the Broadway production The Producers, from Jan. 4-12, to perform on tour.
  12. Stephanie Fricker-Baer, from the Broadway production The Phantom of the Opera, from Dec. 21, 2001-Jan. 1, 2002, for personal reasons.
  13. Kathleen Foster, from the Broadway production Les Misérables, from Dec. 20-26, to perform in and out of town, with the proviso that she not substitute in Les Misérables during that period.
  14. Anthony Cecere, from the Broadway production Beauty and the Beast, from Dec. 22, 2001-Jan. 6, 2002, for personal reasons.
  15. Michael Christianson, from the Broadway production 42nd Street, from Dec. 25, 2001-Jan. 2, 2002, for personal reasons.
  16. Joyce Hammann, from the Broadway production The Phantom of the Opera, from Dec. 22, 2001-Jan. 1, 2002, for personal reasons.

Meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.


TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2002

Meeting called to order at 11:15 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon.

Jan. 8 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

Discussion held on the holiday greeting card that was distributed and the buttons worn by Broadway musicians (see Jan. 8 minutes).

President Moriarity reported on the status of the dismissals of three musicians, as reported in minutes of Jan. 8.

Moriarity reported on the status of the negotiations of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra extra musicians.

Financial Vice-President Hafemeister reported on the status of freelance concert orchestra negotiations. The New York Pops and the Little Orchestra Society have reached agreements with Local 802 and are awaiting final contract language. The freelance concert orchestra negotiating committees recommended that a strike authorization vote be taken. Discussion held. Board member Blumenthal present at 1:05 p.m. during the foregoing discussion, which resulted in the following:

Motion made and carried granting strike authorization for those freelance concert orchestras that have not settled, and calling for a field-wide strike authorization vote to be taken at the meeting to be held on Tuesday, Jan. 22. Opposed: Reynolds and Rohdin.

Meeting recessed at 1:40 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:35 p.m.

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

Assistant Supervisor of National Contracts Schaffner appeared before the board to report concurrence between the board and the NY Recording Musicians Association (RMA) on proposals approved by the RMA for submission to the AFM film negotiations. (See Jan. 8 minutes.) Discussion held. It was the consensus of the board that these proposals be sent to the AFM for its consideration and possible inclusion in the negotiations. Schaffner thanked and excused.

Moriarity requested that the board consider its decision of March 20, 2001, to seek out additional candidates for the AFL-CIO/Cornell University Union Leadership Program (see Jan. 8 minutes). Extensive discussion was held, after which Moriarity appointed a subcommittee of Vice-President Hafemeister and Board members Landolfi and Blumenthal to identify a procedure to find interested, qualified candidates for the program and report back to the board.

Price reported that John C. Hall, Jr., Trustee of the Film Funds Trust Fund, had made $10,000 available to Local 802 for co-sponsored musical events with the same guidelines as the Music Performance Trust Fund.

Crow excused at 3:45 p.m.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve $250 for Legislative Director Beaudoin and Senior Business Rep Jackson to attend the Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus Dinner on Feb. 17 in Albany.

Motion made and carried unanimously to accept the December 2001 vouchers.

Meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m.


TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2002

Meeting called to order at 1:30 p.m. Present: Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. President Moriarity excused to attend AFM Pamphlet B negotiations. Financial Vice-President Hafemeister in the chair.

Jan. 15 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

Financial Vice-President Hafemeister reported on the freelance concert orchestra strike authorization meeting, which had been scheduled earlier in the day. Discussion held.

President Moriarity present at 2:10 p.m.

Moriarity reported on the status of negotiations for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra extra and associate musicians. He requested strike authorization for this group of musicians. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve. Discussion held on some clauses in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra agreement.

Moriarity reported on the AFM-EP Fund arbitration. The arbitrator’s decision maintained the current eligibility requirement for vesting in the plan but accepted management’s proposals to change the pre- and post-retirement death benefits. Discussion held.

Moriarity reported on the status of the AFM Pamphlet B negotiations, which were to continue through Jan. 23 and 24.

Assistant to the President Dennison reported that the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band had been notified that Carnegie Hall would withdraw its sponsorship at the end of the current season, and that the band’s future is unclear.

Moriarity reported on the status of the dismissal of a NY Philharmonic Orchestra musician. Discussion held.

Further discussion took place on the current freelance concert orchestra negotiations.

Meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.