Dear Brothers and Sisters,You have recently received an email from candidate Anne Marie Johnson attacking the results of the AFTRA Prime Time negotiations. Johnson is a leader of the Membership First faction and the SAG Hollywood Vice-President.
Her accusations are wildly inaccurate and misleading. Her record as a SAG leader has resulted in less money for members and diminished respect in the industry. The Real Deal in Prime Time• AFTRA SECURED JURISDICTION IN NEW MEDIA IN JULY 2008. Johnson still asserts that SAG always had jurisdiction. Truth is, unless the employers agree, you have no deal.
• AFTRA New Media terms are identical to the current SAG tentative agreement in Prime Time that you could have voted up almost a year ago.
• AFTRA achieved increases that were above pattern, increased the "Top of Show" compensation by over $450 over the term of the contract, and increased the maximum residual that you can receive for a broadcast rerun by over $250.Johnson's other accusations are simply false:
• Jurisdiction is extensive in New Media production below the $15,000/minute threshold. If ONE UNION MEMBER IS HIRED, ALL WORKERS ARE REQUIRED TO BE SIGNED TO UNION AGREEMENTS. AFTRA has signed scores of these productions to union contracts.
• Clip Consent exists in New Media. All work you have done to date has the SAME TERMS OF CONSENT you've always had. Future production still retains your rights, and you bargain your consent up front.Real Cable, Real Gains.• AFTRA was the first and only union with network basic cable agreements over twenty years ago, beginning with a network by network approach. We have bargained significant improvements in those contracts every time we renegotiate them.
• Far from "undercutting", initial compensation in most instances is tied to the AFTRA Prime Time Agreement which over the next two years will be 3.5% HIGHER THAN SAG. And Johnson wants you to vote that contract down.AFTRA is a JOBS FOR MEMBERS UNION. We are growing our membership and our employment opportunities for you every year. Last year, despite Johnson's leadership (using SAG dues money) to defeat it, YOU, OUR MEMBERSHIP RATIFIED THIS CONTRACT BY A TWO THIRDS MAJORITY.AFTRA Leadership Team is always open to hearing what is on the minds of membership. In the last year we have had dozens of set meetings with casts of our shows. They know that AFTRA LEADERSHIP TEAM is there for them. We have improved compensation and work rules on every contract we negotiate, including six national contracts in 2008 alone. We ask: How many major SAG deals were negotiated by Johnson and "Membership First?" Virtually none. Anne-Marie Johnson needs to answer for that.VOTE FOR TRUE LEADERSHIP.
VOTE FOR THE AFTRA LEADERSHIP TEAM
FOR A UNION THAT WORKS.
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