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
