Hollywood Raiding Stunner – Updated!!
Considering the It was a Membership First dominated group, perhaps the word “astonishing” isn’t quite right. But blatant? That’s different.
The Hollywood Division board last night passed a resolution calling for SAG to raid AFTRA. That’s the only way to describe it. The resolution calls for SAG to “acquire” AFTRA’s actors.
“I move that a task force of Hollywood board members only be formed, to explore the acquisition of actors of AFTRA. The Task Force is to be made up of seven (7) Board members, National or divisional with the Chairperson to be the first Vice President of the Hollywood Board. And this task force is charged to bring back their recommendation as a motion to the Hollywood board which in turn the Hollywood Board will bring such a recommendation to the National board.â€
Never mind that the resolution has no teeth. The resolution shows that Membership First, which dominates the Hollywood Board, has no plan to abide by the Non Disparagement Agrement, which bans raiding as well as disparagement between the unions, and is hell bent on resurrecting the war between SAG and AFTRA.
It’s also amazing considering that some of those backing the resolution are themselves candidates running for the AFTRA board. It should be noted that all the Unite for Strength members and some in Membership First voted against the resolution, recognizing that it could lead to heavy fines against SAG. But others apparently didn’t care.
At 5757 they’re in damage control mode right now, trying to assess how badly the action will damage SAG. Stay tuned.
–
Update: Â Here’s the language from the non disparagement agreement:
Neither party will seek or represent or hold itself out as available to represent performers on any production as to which the other party is the recognized or certified representative of the performers, nor will either party in any manner encourage any performer working on such a production to abandon representation by the other party.
As of the moment there’s been no official comment from 5757…Â
This raises serious questions about the candidacy of Anne-Marie Johnson and others on the Membership First “trojan” ticket for AFTRA’s National Board If they supported this resolution, their actions would seem disqualifying as AFTRA directors, due to a plain conflict of interest. Perhaps some of the lawyers who read these posts can offer opinions on that.
Dr. Giggles this statement is incorrect:
“Historically, TV was originally all AFTRA…until SAG went after the jurisdicion.”
AFTRA did not even exist until after SAG was granted scripted television jurisdiction.
The TvA union, which was a conglomeration of various unions, existed for a few years. SAG was asked to join the TvA but declined. SAG decline because it was SAG’s position, that SAG already had exclusive jurisdiction over motion pictures(scripted TV), whether shown over TV or in Theaters. The TvA protested to the NLRB that they had jurisdiction over scripted TV. The matter was settled by the NLRB. SAG won the TvA lost. AFTRA as we know it, did not exist at that time. AFTRA was formed after jurisdiction was settled.
–
Admin. Comment – The only problem with that account is that it’s, well, to put it politely, misleading. You’re misreading the NLRB’s early 1950s decision if you think it covers anything beyond the employers that were before the NLRB and the shows that were at issue then.
Ed. you are absolutely correct. My reference via short hand had to do with the short-sightedness of Membership first and the co dependency of their NED. Until Rosenberg’s ascendency, there were efforts being made to resolve the problem.
“If there really was a violation of jurisdiction, as you surmise, why did SAG concede five shows when they didn’t have to concede any, and could have pressed the issue and driven AFTRA off all ten shows?”
Answer: Actually only 4 shows made it to series SAG and AFTRA got two each by the time the dispute was settled. The settlement terms were confidential. The two unions were supposed to finally settle the digital jurisdiction issue but a leadership turnover at both unions disrupted the settlement.
There are those among the MF persuasion that believe that there was a backroom quid pro quo for the SAG NED position between Pisano and Hessinger and that Hessinger would take over as SAG’s NED position from Pisano and lead another merger attempt. This would have rendered the digital jurisdiction issue moot.
Who knows?
Anyway AFTRA acknowledged the situs agreement and the concept of SAG and AFTRA lots, more recently in the AFTRA magazine. AFTRA explained in the article which responded Doug Allen, that the lack of shows under AFTRA jurisdiction was due to the fact that many sitcoms switched to film in the 1990’s and AFTRA lots were lost (one of the big AFTRA lots,KTTV, is now a high school).
–
Ed. Comment – The timing of the supposed Pisano-Hessinger deal doesn’t work out to fit the MF conspiracy theory, but it’s true there were plenty of people on both sides who wondered why Hessinger gave up so much to SAG so easily.
There is no “T” in SAG, but there is one in AFTRA.
“There is no “T†in SAG, but there is one in AFTRA.”
There wasn’t a “T” in AFRA, when SAG had jurisdiction over all actors confirmed by the 4A’s “in the motion picture field including, without limitation, all motion pictures produced for use over television.”
AFTRA acknowledged this too, in their magazines issue I referenced earlier. The position of AFTRA in the “AFTRA timeline” was that technology changed jurisdiction. Namely the improvement of videotape.
I have nothing to add to the main topic but wanted to offer some props to “mike” for attempting to at least offer some scraps of rationale behind this seemingly wacky resolution. If nothing else, the discussion brings up interesting details and SAG-AFTRA history, so I hope he continues to post here, despite the flak.
I also wanted to give thumbs up to Kathy Joosten on her potential spin-off series with Lily Tomlin . I confess that I stopped watching “Desperate Housewives” a while back, so I’m not familiar with their characters. But I’m a huge fan of both actresses and hope this new series happens. Both going strong into 70!
http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0781639/
There is even less “T” in SAG than ever before with the MAJORITY of new shows going with the union with a contract. This is the kind of “gains” MF can deliver – loss. Only a hostile takeover by SAG of AFTRA would work at this point, and MF knows this. AFTRA does not need SAG but the MF feels the desperate need to kill AFTRA at any cost. Great timing by MF to attack AFTRA right before the theatrical contract – just more trojan rabbit behavior.
Transpo, Its getting tedious to continually point out your ignorance.
The is much less scripted “T” in AFTRA than in years past. There is much more “T” in SAG as a percentage than ever before, including the upcoming season.
Historically AFTRA had a substantially larger footprint in scripted Prime Time TV in the 1970’s and 1980’s than it does now. AFTRA still has a long way to go, to catch up to SAG now or the level of market it held in prime time scripted TV those days.
In the up coming season Aftra will probably have a couple of shows on each network. SAG will still have close to 90% of scripted prime time TV. Which is still at the high end, regarding SAG vs. AFTRA market share, as measure historically. According to the most respected and trusted contributors to this website, “In the 70’s AFTRA once had 30-40% of dramatic programming in primetime broadcast.”
Mike your stats are misleading.
First – there is much less scripted programming, period.
At this point I wonder how many actors care if the job is primetime or cable – a job is a job….when you add in synidcation and cable the numbers do shift if AFTRA’s favor.
Plus, at this point, the 67 pilots that went to AFTRA this year….if/when they get pciked up who knows where they will be time slottedd…but they will still be AFTRA. How about looking at the numbers of SAG vs AFTRA signed shows across the board today, compared to say 5 years ago (when MF first took control)….and also compare those number as ratios to the total number of script shows (since we have seen such a huge loss of scripted television to game shows, reality shows, news shows and talk shows….)
By the way – just to point out the Trojan Horse motion is only a Hollywood motion, and not an action of the National Board. Well, technically, it is….it really is an MF motion of the Hollywood Board.
OK so now that the AFTRA voting ballots are here, out the 106 people we can vote for on the 2009 National Convention Delegates, who should be absolutely avoid other than of course, Ann Marie?
—
Admin. Note – If you want to avoid the AMJ slate, just go to the AFTRA Leadership Team’s site, and pick up their voting guide.
Admin. I did that and used it for the LA Board, NAtional Board etc, but they don’t have the list of people that want for the National Convention, Our ballot says to vote for no more than 106. Wouldn’t it be easier to just list who we DONT want?
–
Admin. Comment – That’s a curious omission on the AFTRA Leadership Team’s part.
The Membership First slate is on their website.
thanks Admin, and least was some help….
just to rase a ruckas could everyone of you write me in as AFTRA president on the ballot?
Why not??
It’s a hippadrome of a ballot..for the incumbents…