Tuesday, June 29, 2021

FY 22 spending bill includes $201 million for the NEA and NEH each status

July 1, 2021

Today the full House Appropriations Committee approved the FY 22 Interior spending bill, sending it to the floor for a vote likely before the August recess. The bill includes the $201 million for the NEA and NEH each.  

Have a good safe weekend. 

CarloFiorletta@giaa.us

In an approximately 20 minute markup, the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved its FY 22 spending bill on a voice vote Monday evening, sending it to the full Appropriations Committee for a vote on Thursday. I am very happy to report that the bill includes $201 million for the NEA and NEH each. (This amount is equal to the Biden budget request for NEA and an increase over what the Biden budget requested for NEH.)

The full Appropriations Committee markup is scheduled for Thursday at 9 am et. You can watch the proceedings here: https://appropriations.house.gov/events/markups/fy2022-state-foreign-operations-and-related-programs-and-interior-environment-and. 

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Friday, June 25, 2021

Tell your members of Congress: Support the President's budget of $201m for the NEA

This came to me from AEA but writers and most professionals will benefit by more funding. 

Thanks

CarloFiorletta@giaa.us


https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-your-members-of-congress-support-president-budget-nea/

The arts and entertainment industry took a hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funds family-supporting jobs in arts and entertainment all across the country, and it's been underfunded for years.

The NEA isn't just supporting culture though. The arts have an important economic impact in large and small communities all around the country. According to Americans for the Arts, the average nonprofit arts attendee spends another $31.41 per person, per show beyond the cost of admission. Arts and entertainment are responsible for more than four million jobs, powering a sector responsible for $877.8 billion in value and 4.5% of U.S. gross domestic product.

In his budget, President Biden has proposed a major increase in NEA funding. Now, as Congress picks up their work on the budget, we need your help to push them to support the President's proposal of $201 million for the NEA.

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AFL-CIO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

This is copied and pasted from my email.  Happy to forward original on request.

CarloFiorletta@giaa.us


AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (UMWA) standing at a podium in front of three waving American flags.

When an American citizen is denied the right to vote, whether by a court, a state legislature or business as usual in Washington, we become a lesser nation. When more than 60 million people would vote for a voice on the job today, but only one in 10 workers are union members, something is terribly wrong. The For the People Act and the PRO Act would restore democracy to America’s polling places and workplaces after decades of destructive attacks. These bills have broad support and limitless potential for good. Procedural roadblocks must be removed. Paths must be cleared. And laws must be signed. The American people voted for change. It is time for Congress to protect and honor that vote with action. 

IATSE LOCAL ONE HOLDS VIRTUAL PICKET LINE AT MET OPERA

#WeAreThe Met. IATSE logo.

Management at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City is demanding a permanent 30% pay cut for all union members, from singers to stagehands, as well as work-rule changes unrelated to the pandemic. After Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local One rejected those demands in December, management locked out 350 stagehands—set builders, lighting and sound technicians and more. This action also locked out other unions.

 

Now our union family is hosting a virtual picket line to show Met’s management and board of directors that the entire community is united until the workers get a fair contract.

UMWA MEMBERS AT WARRIOR MET COAL, UNION LEADERS LEAFLET OUTSIDE HEDGE FUND OFFICES IN NEW YORK CITY

UMWA and IATSE members standing on Wall Street in New York City holding protest signs.

Dozens of Warrior Met Coal workers who are members of the Mine Workers (UMWA) and union leaders traveled from Brookwood, Alabama, to New York City on Tuesday, June 22, to leaflet outside the offices of the three major Wall Street investors at Warrior Met: BlackRock Fund Advisors, SSgA Funds Management Inc. and Renaissance Technologies. 

 

More than 1,100 workers at Warrior have been on strike since April 1, and they don’t plan on slowing down until they reach their goals of fair pay and a safer workplace. 

 

Five years ago, these workers’ benefits were impacted when their pay was drastically slashed; paid holidays and some of their time off was taken away; ability to earn overtime pay stopped; and health insurance costs increasingly rose while safety standards and working conditions dropped. At the time, they accepted the subpar contract because the company was going through bankruptcy. Now that Warrior’s finances have improved and profits are on the rise, the company is refusing to share the wealth with the workers who sacrificed to save it.

THREE QUESTIONS FOR MONTANA STATE AFL-CIO EXECUTIVE SECRETARY 

AL EKBLAD

Montana State AFL-CIO Executive Secretary Al Ekblad

The AFL-CIO is including this regular feature in our Dispatch newsletter, where we ask three questions of a labor leader. We continue this feature with a short interview with Al Ekblad (IUOE), executive secretary of the Montana State AFL-CIO.

 

Q: Can you tell us about a recent local campaign in which the Montana AFL-CIO has been engaged?

A: The state fed has been providing social media support and helping coordinate local support for SEIU 1199’s campaign to get a first contract at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center [which recently underwent a name change and is now called Logan Health].

 

Q: What are the highest priorities for your state federation?

A: Preparing for the 2022 elections. We need to elect more union members to the State House and Senate. We also need to work to protect the moderate R's that helped us kill [right to work] in the 2021 session.

 

Q: What would you say to inspire someone who is starting to become involved in the labor movement? 

A: Our country is at a pivotal point in our history and the labor movement is the greatest vehicle for economic and social change in our country. It needs to hear from young front-line workers. If you truly want to make a difference for yourselves, your families and our country, you can do it through the labor movement, if you step up. The soul of our country hangs in the balance. Do we want a country that treats all workers fairly? Or do we want an autocratic regime that treats workers and their families as nothing more than a means to accumulate more wealth? It’s going to be a hard fight, but it’s a fight worth having. 

UNION PLUS FREE COLLEGE PROGRAM OFFERS JULY INFO SESSIONS

Christine Jones wearing a graduation cap

There are more than 73,000 students enrolled in the Union Plus Free College and Union Plus Bachelor’s Degree Completion programs, a number that is growing every semester. Both programs are now enrolling for classes starting Aug. 16.


The Free College benefit team is offering two July information sessions for union families who want to learn more about how to enroll—at no cost—to earn a degree in teacher education, business management, IT help desk or a wide array of other fields.


To register for the online “back to school” info sessions, use the links below. The two options are:


July 13 at 8 p.m. ET (U.S. and Canada)


us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApfu6rrj0pHtAp3_YFUT7KwiogT16APiwz


July 14 at 6 p.m. PT (U.S. and Canada)


us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tcumhqjwiG9UeVfh4P8V8TK3l6MdR7FfH


Current and retired union members and their families are eligible to enroll in the Free College Program, including spouses and domestic partners, children (or stepchildren), grandchildren (or step-grandchildren), financial dependents, siblings and parents. Unemployed, furloughed and laid-off union members, and their extended family are all eligible to enroll.


Christine Jones (pictured above), the daughter of an American Federation of Teachers (AFT) member in Texas, recently completed her associate degree in business management through the Free College Program. 


“I’d recommend [the Free College Program] for anyone who wants to get an education and doesn’t want to deal with the stress of paying for classes and books. You need to look into this because it’s a good opportunity,” said Jones. 


To learn more about the Union Plus Free College Program online, visit FreeCollege.UnionPlus.org.

WE DO THE WORK

Charity Wilson

Charity Wilson (TNG-CWA) is a legislative representative in the AFL-CIO’s Advocacy Hub. She previously worked in the federation’s Legislative and Public Policy Departments from 1997–2005. She also worked in AFGE’s Legislative Department for 13 years.

 

Charity was born in Nuremberg, Germany, and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. She’s the daughter of a Teamster and the granddaughter of a miner who was reinstated by a 1938 decision of the National Labor Relations Board after the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Co. fired him and other miners for being members of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers. This was at a mine in Bessemer, Alabama, nearly 100 years before the Amazon organizing campaign.  

 

As the parent of one daughter, Charity is a recovering basketball mom who loves to cook and listen to music.

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Wednesday, June 23, 2021

BG Extrac NYC area The Time Traveler's Wife - "Wedding Guests"

CATEGORY:

TV & VIDEO: SCRIPTED TV & VIDEO
PAIDUNION AND NONUNIONCompany
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Crossways Theatre Presents Immigration Stories

Premiering on

Crossways Theatre’s YouTube Channel 

https://youtu.be/70uQNSZi36Q

Lionelle Hamanaka brought this to my attention.

Friday, June 25, 2021 @ 7 p.m. (E.D.T.)
Sliding Scale Donations: From “Regular” $1 to “Suggested Donation” $10

Immigration Stories was inspired by the DACA repeal. The devisers sought to create a piece of theatre that reflects young Americans’ feelings about the political climate, and their desire to add their voices to the dialogue about injustice, human rights, identity, and belonging. RT: 30 minutes w/Zoom 

Q&A (https://ccny.zoom.us/j/83673947682) after the Premiere.

Director/Deviser Jennifer Tuttle & Dramaturg/Deviser Kathleen Potts Featuring Writers & Performers:

Caleb Ricke Kayla Rodriguez Lucius Seo

Bibin Shrestha Zunairis Velazquez Hanna Ventura





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AEMI White House COVID vaccination Month of Action Media tool kit

Asma Y. Mirza was the facilitator of the meeting. She works for the

EOP (Educational Opportunity Program) at

WHO (World Health Organization) for our government

Vice President Carson Grant and I attended. 

Here is a follow up. 

Think small, if you can get local site of drug chain to vaccinate a couple dozen at a 

local sports or entertainment event or be the entertainment yourself.

please find attached the two White House resources

MONTH OF ACTION

WCDT MOA SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT

that Asma discussed yesterday:

  • Social media toolkit
  • Four things organizations can do to drive vaccinations
If you'd like to contact Asma let me know and I will exchange email addresses.


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Monday, June 21, 2021

THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL shoot dates 6/29 & 7/2 (w/ covid test6/28 & 7/1).

 


CATEGORY:TV & VIDEO: SCRIPTED TV & VIDEO
TAGS:PAIDNONUNION
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Monday, June 14, 2021

Call now and urge your senator to ensure jobs with rights for all

Call now and urge your senator to ensure jobs with rights for all

 It is a short form that will use your Zip code to automate:

https://actionnetwork.org/forms/ensure-jobs-with-rights-for-all/

Every person who lives and works in this country deserves a job where they have a voice and earn living wages. Tell your senators to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act and create a broad path to citizenship. 

The best way to strengthen our democracy and our economy is by empowering workers—and this should not have any exclusions.  

Immigrants and refugees have always helped build, serve and feed our nation. Today is no different. Our Workers First Agenda is about expanding rights and opportunities for all working families, with no exclusions. We need a just recovery for all, including our union family members who have temporary protected status or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

Use the form to call now and urge your U.S. senators to ensure jobs with rights for all.

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Thursday, June 3, 2021

AEMI notes

AEMI notes

June 3, 2021

 

Cabinet secretaries on the task force, headed by VP Harris

 

Led by DOL Secretary Marty Walsh

 

NO arts agencies on the list – that will impact the AEMI goals

 

Proposals to increase union density & bring work to union members –

Concrete and tangible actions

 

NOT about labor law reform – that’s a given but separate

 

What can President Biden do NOW?

 

1. Increase flow of work to union employers – density

2. Expand training that leads to union membership – 

3. Expand access to federal propoerty

4. Expand role of unions in federal programs – needs development

5. Promote ability of unions to advocate

6. Increase union membership in federal sector 

 

What are potential AEMI suggested actions?

 

Federal arts funding increase – good jump in Biden’s budget proposal for NEA

 

Expand prevailing wage requirement?

NEA requirement currently only covers the 60% of $$ that goes directly to the arts

Doesn’t cover the 40% that goes via states

 

DOL Sec’y comes via building trades so he really understands the prevailing wage concept

 

This concept – prevailing wage - got strong support from participants

 

**Dis-incentivizes companies from going non-union

 

NEA has given substantial $$ to organizations that are anti-union

 

If prevailing wage language is included in a large % of NEA & NEH grants, companies will be unwilling to turn down the $$ to avoid unions

 

CPB – nominate a union advocate?

Not a regulatory change but an action that can be important

 

Language to recognize the importance/value of unions in public broadcasting?

Not to mandate unions

 

Find ways to increase % of CPB broadcasts that are union made

 

Real time info on grant recipients – need to know quickly in order to be able to organize projects

If info is too slow, it’s useless

 

Common in building trades

 

** Suggestion from SAG-AFTRA: Where the gov’t is doing corporate or industrial productions – short films, how tos – language to encourage but not mandate union productions

 

** Lowell - Bolster union training programs? Maybe too long of a time horizon?

Common & big in building trades

 

Blorenz – cultural problem in that others think all training in the arts should be unpaid.

Very unfortunate but true.

 

Alfonso Pollard  AGMA – do any AEMI unions have training/apprenticeship programs?

Rockettes have some for potential dancers.

Doesn’t seem to be an official DOL recognized program.

Now it’s done for free. Usually free hotel & food, this year via Zoom

 

Pollard has been trying to put something together for musicians but hasn’t been able to find something comparable. Sec’y Acosta (Trump guy) was actually open to the idea and encouraging.

 

But these programs have challenges. 

Audition process for musicians is so selective. 100 applications for 1 position. 

So you can train lots of apprentices but that doesn’t mean they can get jobs.

Unlike building trades.

 

Tyler McIntosh IATSE – will check, pretty sure some of their locals have them

Training trust fund facilitates training opportunities for craft skills, safety.

Some is ERISA

 

Vinny Butler – move from staff to freelance means lower wages

Not useful to have apprentice programs if no jobs for them

 

Lowell Peterson WGA – they have apprenticeships for non-fiction TV

Not a direct 1-1 where they can contracts because people came through their programs

 

Government procurement of live events?

They do everything from press conferences, presentations etc.

 

AGMA has dealt with that – Capitol 4th celebration etc.

Gov’t facilities/property etc.

Wolf Trap in VA, Kennedy Center

Work dwindling for union musicians

Military bands – almost 100 of them – beginning to infringe on union performance activities.

City groups now using military bands to displace local union musicians

 

DoD directive aimed at relieving that but over the years it’s fallen to the wayside.

 

Gov’t is always putting on events, marketing, etc with live music

Battling this issue

But no one wants to step on military toes for displacing civilian musicians

 

But IATSE’s DC local DOES do 4th of July etc

They’re closely tied into everything that goes on in DC

Very effective

Tyler from IATSE will talk to them about ways of extending that to other unions

That local’s head is very well connected

 

 

Industry meeting is 9 AM Friday the 11th.

This is staff, not Cabinet Secretaries unless there might be a lucky drop in

 

Might be non AEMI unions there

 

Not necessarily the only time AEMI will get to talk to the Task Force – probably will be follow up opportunities

 

Michael will have draft document with the group’s priorities on shared letterhead

He’ll  circulate a draft to everyone

 

He will check with other unions that have earlier meetings to get a sense of the format

Give and take? Q&A?

 

I said we won’t be there

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Steppenwolf Theatre Company 2021-2022 Chicago, IL

 

Email self-tape links

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Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Actors’ Equity Association Applauds Record NEA Funding Proposal

 


Actors’ Equity Association Applauds Record NEA Funding Proposal From Biden Administration

 

New York— Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, has released a statement in response to President Joe Biden proposing a new National Endowment for the Arts budget of $201 million. The proposed increase of $33.5 million is a record-high for the agency and an important step towards fully funding the NEA at $1 per capita, or $331 million. 

“We are so grateful to President Biden for this proposal, recognizing that the arts have not only immeasurable cultural value to the lives of Americans, but a huge financial impact," said Kate Shindle, president of Actors’ Equity Association. “A robust NEA means more well-paying jobs in the arts sector in communities in every state. We hope that Congress follows the president’s lead as they work on the budget and make this historic change for the arts in this country." 

Background: Equity has long made public arts funding a cornerstone of the union’s advocacy. This included protesting multiple attempts for the Trump administration to eliminate the NEA altogether, and championing a budgetary increase of over $7 million last year. 

The union, which participates every year in Arts Advocacy Day, is currently asking that Congress increase NEA’s budget increase to $331 million, a dollar per capita.

The union has also called for a chief diversity officer at the NEA.

ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers. Equity endeavors to advance the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits (health and pension included). Member: AFL-CIO, FIA. www.actorsequity.org #EquityWorks  

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