In order for members to understand how AFTRA and S.A.G.
arrived at two very different contracts covering work on
Network Television and in new media, it's important to
understand the events leading up the current split between
the two unions.
For almost 30 years there has been a joint bargaining
agreement between S.A.G. and AFTRA called Phase I.
Under this agreement S.A.G. and AFTRA have jointly bargained
the TV/Theatrical contract and Commercials contract
approximately every three years.
The joint negotiating committee has always consisted of 13
voting S.A.G. members and 13 voting AFTRA members.
Over the years, a number of S.A.G. negotiating
committees have expressed their concerns that this system was
unfair because it did not proportionally divide the votes
based on the jurisdiction of each union.
For example, under the Commercials Contract, AFTRA covers
approximately 5% of commercial work while S.A.G. covers
approximately 95%. (AFTRA has a 50% vote on this
contract.)
Voting patterns have been consistent over recent years with
AFTRA committee members tending to vote unanimously, while
S.A.G. committees have had clear majority opinions but also
dissenting points of view expressed by some committee
members.
Under the Phase I system, therefore, it could take as little
as one S.A.G. committee member, voting with the AFTRA members
of the committee, to outvote the majority of S.A.G. committee
members.
In an attempt to correct what was perceived as an imbalance,
the S.A.G. National Board voted to implement Bloc Voting.
Under this system, AFTRA and S.A.G. would have continued
their 50/50 relationship in joint bargaining but the majority
of AFTRA voters would have counted as one vote (or bloc of
votes); the majority of S.A.G. voters would also have counted
as one vote (or bloc of votes.)
The worst-case scenario under such an arrangement would have
been a stalemate between the two unions, but the integrity of
each union's point of view would have remained intact, and
one voter would not have the power to impose the will of one
union over the other.
Bloc Voting was passed by S.A.G.'s National Board but was
withdrawn after objections were made by AFTRA.
Proportional voting was then suggested by S.A.G. to cover all
contracts based on jurisdiction. AFTRA and S.A.G.
currently share approximately the same percentage of
contracts in basic cable scripted programs and interactive
projects, so it was proposed that they share negotiations in
these areas as 50/50 partners.
In the area of Network Television, however, where AFTRA had
only 3 contracts and in motion pictures where AFTRA had none,
it was proposed that the votes of the S.A.G. Negotating
Committee members be given proper weight to fairly represent
the amount of work covered by S.A.G. under the TV/Theatrical
contract.
AFTRA objected to this plan and it was withdrawn.
Both unions then agreed to negotiate the TV/Theatrical
contract covering Network TV and Motion Pictures under the
Phase I agreement (again with 13 members on the negotiating
committee from each union.)
Joint W&W Meetings were held by the two unions and
joint proposals were unanimously agreed upon by the
AFTRA/S.A.G. negotiating committee.
During this time period, the cast of the soap THE BOLD AND
THE BEAUTIFUL had decided to seek a S.A.G. contract to cover
their show (which had always been under AFTRA's
jurisdiction.)
The cast members met with S.A.G. leaders but were told that
S.A.G. could not and would not participate in any
decertification efforts.
The joint boards of both unions were scheduled to meet and
vote on the proposals of the joint negotiating
committee, but on the day of the meeting, AFTRA leaders
suspended Phase I, claiming that S.A.G. had tried to seize
jurisdiction on THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL.
Susan Flannery, the star of THE BOLD AND BEATIFUL (since the
show's inception in 1987), has publicly denied that S.A.G.
leadership had anything to do with the efforts of the show's
cast and has stated:
"LET'S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT…NO CAST MEMBER
OF THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL HAS BEEN SOLICITED BY ANY
DIRECTOR OR ELECTED OFFICER OF SAG TO LEAVE AFTRA AND JOIN
THEM......PERIOD"
Her letter is printed in its entirety below.
S.A.G. began negotiations with the AMPTP (representing
networks and studios) and asked AFTRA to return to the Phase
I agreement.
AFTRA declined and began separate negotiations with the
AMPTP.
On three subsequent occasions, while both unions were in the
process of negotiating with the AMPTP, S.A.G. asked AFTRA to
return to Phase I and all three invitations were
declined.
S.A.G. subsequently asked AFTRA not to conclude negotiations
until S.A.G. had also finished negotiations but this request
was denied.
AFTRA concluded its negotiations with the AMPTP.
The AFTRA contract was passed by AFTRA's membership with an
historically low 62.4% approval rate.
S.A.G. negotiations are still on-going.
LETTER FROM SUSAN FLANNERY
April 14, 2008
To the members of S.A.G.:
LET'S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT!
" NO CAST MEMBER OF THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
HAS BEEN SOLICITED BY ANY DIRECTOR OR ELECTED
OFFICER OF SAG TO LEAVE AFTRA AND JOIN
THEM......
PERIOD"
The sequence of events is as follows.
Shortly after the first cast discussions of leaving
AFTRA, Bill Thomas and David Brisbeis ( AFTRA )
called me & asked if there was any substance to
rumors of a petition for descertification.
That was NO PETITION since we didn't even know
we're required to have one.
Talk about being "Babes in the
Woods".
I explained to Bill and David that we were only in
the early stages of discussions. I gave them my word
of honor that we would meet with AFTRA before any
final decisions were made.
David and I have a long union relationship, so I
felt comfortable that he would take me at my word. I
also informed them that we would meet with SAG.
There were 3 or 4 phone calls over the next 2 weeks
between us about these matters, including a request
for a copy of the contract between AFTRA and B&
B and setting a meeting with AFTRA.
The cast subsequently did in fact meet over 2
evenings with Roberta Reardon and Kim Roberts
Hedgepath.
Just so everyone understands, the idea of exploring
the possibility for a new 'Collective Bargaining
Agent"
began with me.
There has been over the past 21 years at B&B, a
growing dissatisfaction with AFTRA regarding health
plans, residuals, pensions, meal penalties,
turnarounds etc. In the final analysis, the
contracts negotiated on our behalf over the years,
in our opinion, have fallen very short of our
expectations!
Because we still live in a democracy, and have
choices, more internal meetings with the cast
took place, and the decision to begin exploratory
conversations to seek a different Collective
Bargaining Agent began in earnest.
As members in good standing with Screen Actors
Guild, my Co-Star ( of 21 years ) John MCCook and I
met with SAG National Director Doug Allen & SAG
President Allen Rosenberg to ask what our options
were.
We did not, as has been reported, complain bitterly
about AFTRA.
We only wanted to know if it were possible for SAG
to take us into the fold. However, reality quickly
interverned. Doug informed us and rightly so, that
any complaints we had regarding AFTRA should be
brought to their attention by us.
We acknowledged that, and informed him that we were
in the process of setting up meetings with AFTRA for
just that purpose.
However, we were already in our minds beyond that
point. We never approached this issue out of
anger, we simply felt we needed, in the larger view
of things, a more focused, stronger, and realistic
approach to the changing world of television, and
the industry as a whole as it is affected by new
media.
Now to the issue of who is truly putting the brakes
on our ability to pick the union we choose to
represent us.
THE AFL-CIO and their part in all of this.
According to the AFL-CIO, there is a " side
bar" agreement that prevents a group of union
workers in good standing from leaving one union and
going to another without suffering a 2 year
suspension ( waiting period ) before their union of
choice can accept them.
Talk about an ANTI UNION clause!
This agreement withholds from union members the
protection of a union shop and
collective bargaining agent of their
choice..... in this case SAG.
When was this agreed to? When was this issued and
why?
Why would anyone vote to support, and or accept this
concept?
A cooling off period ? The National Labor Relations
Board and their 42 DAY waiting period provide that
caveat.
42 days to cool off and re-think, before making a
final decision to decertify.
So we have to ask? What is the real agenda for the
AFL-CIO in imposing that 2 yr Waiting Period?
Does this not create a genuine hardship for union
members?
Has this, among other issues, created an atmosphere
and perception amongst union workers that they are
not best served by the AFL-CIO?
It seems that as movements continue to grow, the
institution becomes more important then the members
it represents. Is that what we and other unions
affiliated with them are experiencing with the AFL
CIO?
I called John Sweeny in Washington, DC twice to
discuss this rule or regulation and even to plead
for a waiver, and he has yet to extend the courtesy
of a phone call.
It is time to accomplish something positive and
meaningful for the working actor in their
affliations with Labor Organizations.
" Freedom of Choice" is a good
beginning.
Who we choose to represent us, and our best
interests, should be up to us!
Susan Flannery
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