A letter from four former IEB members

June 9, 2010

Dear Delegates,

In a few days you will be convening in Las Vegas for our AFM Convention.  This could be a revolutionary event --- or --- just another “business as usual”.The choice is yours.

AFM ADMINISTRATION

• A good Union Administration is one that governs thoughtfully and prudently.  It welcomes discussion, opinions, ideas, and even disagreement.  It does things openly and transparently.  It treats all of its members equally and with respect.  It does not pit one faction of the membership against another.  Its meeting minutes are recorded as a written record of what actually happened, not vague and incomplete and often altered or editorialized statements. IEB members have differing opinions at times, however it would seem that this Administration has lockstep unanimity.  Except for rare occasions, the present IEB seems to think that all is well, all the time.  They seem to be much more absorbed with politics than they are with policy.  They ignore the by-laws and union policy and Convention Mandates whenever they please.  They have denied members working under collective bargaining agreements to ratify their own agreements.  That’s basic Unionism 101. The President appoints people to important positions without bothering to consult with the Symphonic, Theatre and Recording Musicians Conferences who are most affected by those appointments.  In 1990 The Roehl Report was adopted by the IEB as AFM policy.  It is considered to be a landmark example of Union Democracy.  In the past 3 years Our President has ignored, decimated or nullified all of those policies.  The present IEB did not utter a sound of concern (except for one Board Member) as this occurred.  At the last IEB meeting the IEB voted to revoke those policies.  Our present Officers and IEB members are not a good Union Administration. 

GOODBY MPTF ???

• Why did we ever take the “T” out of MPTF?  It was the one word that defined the fund and gave it meaning.  In March of 2009 John Hall sent President Lee a letter advising him that since he had not responded to any of his suggestions and written recommendations in over two years, he had no choice but to begin a run-down period to dismantle the fund.
  
  Apparently, he was ignored.  In April of 2009 John Hall sent a memorandum to all Federation and Local officers outlining the urgent need for the Federation to produce a source of income to allow the MPTF to continue its mission.  He provided the Federation President and Officers a time frame to produce a source of revenue that would “stop the clock”.   He was ignored.  In November 2009 John Hall sent The President a letter informing him that he had moved the MPTF offices to a less expensive space and made reductions in staff and slashed overall expenses by more than 30% to “keep the fund going”.  He informed the President that the fund could cease operations as early as the summer of 2011 if nothing is done.  He stated that the Fund could be saved, but only with the active support of The AFM.  Again, no response from the president or the IEB, all of which were copied on his reports.  At the recent Motion Picture Negotiations one IEB member proposed a plan to earmark a small portion of Motion Picture Special Payments be allotted to MPTF.  The President responded “No way, I don’t want any of that money going to MPTF”.  Resolution 17, presented by Ed Samgochin of Local 143 involves a plan to save the MPTF.  John Hall has gotten a written opinion from the MPTF lawyers stating that this would be legal and permissible.  Whether or not this proposal passes or fails, it’s interesting that one guy from a small Local could at least have an idea, while the people we elected to protect our interests, could come up with nothing.  The Fund has been in existence for more than 60 years and benefitted thousands of musicians, especially from small locals that once viewed the fund as one of their main sources of work.  Will this fund go away without anyone caring or trying to save it?

AFM FINANCES

• The AFM is in terrible financial shape.  The President will tell you that you just have to come up with more money yet spending and expenses are at an all time high.  We have more Federation employees today than we had when the AFM membership was over 100,000 members.  Please understand, we have competent and loyal employees, but a prudent administration would not increase payroll expenses when revenues are tumbling.  Over 1.2 million dollars has been taken out of the Relocation fund to meet daily expenses and settle lawsuits against our own members.  The relocation fund has about 1.6 million remaining.  Will our officers wait until that is gone before they think of cutting expenses?  The IEB seems to have very little oversight of the Officers Expenses. Is each and every trip to their homes “official business?” The Federation Secretary-Treasurer repaid almost $20,000 in expenses he mistakenly put on the Federation’s Credit Card.  Didn’t we force a former S-T to resign over less than half that amount?  We read in some campaign literature that thousands of dollars are spent on limousines costing three times the cost of taxis or livery cars.  There is an EMSD employee in L.A. that has been on sick leave with full pay for over three years.  Another employee was told to “not come into the office” but receive full pay. Another recent employee was put on administrative leave after the computer system of Local 47 in Los Angeles was hacked into by “someone” from EMSD.  What is that all about?   Our  President and Secretary spend very little time in our New York office.   Recommendation 24 from the IEB calls for the full time officers to receive $10,000 per year for expenses that they “shall not be required to make an accounting for”.  The unmitigated “chutzpah” of that proposal defies every sensibility that a Labor Union leader should have.  Every union leader in the world should be accountable to its members for every penny of their money.  

The writers of this letter care greatly about our union as we know you do as well.  This Convention must be the one that changes our destiny and the future of music and the professional musician.  We need and deserve positive action by persons who will dedicate themselves to the future of the American Federation of Musicians and its members.  Rhetoric without action will no longer fit the bill.  It’s up to each and every one of us.


Hal Espinosa                                     
Local 47 President Emeritus               
Former AFMEP Fund Trustee                
Former IEB Member                         

Bill Moriarity
Former Local 802 President
Former AFMEP Fund Trustee
Former IEB Member

Ed Ward                           
Local 10-208 President Emeritus
Former AFMEP Trustee
IEB Member Emeritus
Current Chgo. Fed. Of Labor Exec. Board

Bobby Herriot
Former President local 149
Former International Vice Pres

Comments

[Antony Cooke]

It's do or die time. Either the union goes the way of the dinosaur, or it gets back on track to represent the musicians who actually depend on its commitment to them. This is the last and best hope. Otherwise, the AFM will not be around long enough for a second chance. Vote for peace, vote for unity, vote for sanity.

[Bruce Hembd]

The hyperlink - Performance Problems: Are Broadcast Recording Royalties Worth It?

[Bruce Hembd]

http://digitalmusicnews.com/stories/060910performance - something of tangential interest.