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A publication of the Philadelphia Local of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

October 2008

ON LABOR DAY AFTRA MARCHED

At our local board meetings over the past several months there always was one subject mem-

bers knew would surface in President Catherine Brown’s report, plans for the 2008 Philadelphia Labor Day parade and AFTRA’s participation in it. As a first time participant in the the celebration this year, I now fully understand why. It was a great event. AFTRA was one of the thirty unions with thousands of marchers par-ticipating.

It began at the Columbus Avenue union hall for Local �9 of the Sheet Metal Work-ers and ended at Penns Landing. The pa-rade was followed by a day of fun for the union members, their families and friends.

The AFTRA Philadelphia Board was thrilled with the turnout of AFTRAns who made it to the parade and urge those who missed it to partcipate in the 2009 Labor Day parade. Marching and mingling with your fellow labor union members can give you a great feeling and make for a memorable Labor Day.

By Bill Shusta

Photos by Lynn Koenigsberg.

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Metro is AFTRA...From page 1

SESSIONSof the Philadelphia

American Federation of Television & Radio Artists215.732.0507

philadelphia@aftra.comwww.aftraphiladelphia.com

Cast & CrewShelley Figures—Editor

Contributing EditorsNat Wright, Stephen Leshinski

Layout—Chuck Varesko

StaffStephen LeshinskiExecutive Director

Shelley FiguresAssociate Executive Director

Lynn Koenigsberg—Freelance Contracts/Signatory Administrator

Michele Dooley—Benefits &Membership Administrator

AFTRA LocalBoard of Directors

Catherine Brown—President Dan Hunt—�st Vice PresidentDick Sheeran—2nd Vice PresidentCyndy Drue —SecretaryEd Fischer—TreasurerRob Charry, Ed Fischer, Paul Kurtz, Helen McNutt, Tom McNutt, Susan Moses, Dick Sheeran, Bill Shusta, Christy Springfield, Chuck Varesko

National Board Members:Susan Moses, Bill Shusta

For the latest info dial:

215-C-A-S-T-I-N-Gor surf to

www.aftra.comVisit the Philadelphia

AFTRA Online Talent Guide @

www.aftraphiladelphia.com

AFTRA PHILADELPHIA230 South Broad St., Suite 500Philadelphia, PA 19102-4121215.732.0507

Official Publication National Board Report

Meeting by videoconference between New York and Los Angeles, the National Board of

Directors of AFTRA approved a proposed agreement outlining conditions for joint bargaining with SAG on the Commercials Contracts under the terms of the Phase One agreement. The specifics of the proposed agreement will remain confidential until acted upon by the SAG National Board in a few weeks.

In her address to the AFTRA National Board, President Roberta Reardon observed, “Our entire world of work is in evolution as digital technology becomes the norm in production. This has an ever-widening impact on all AFTRA workers from sound recordings artists who led the way in the digital revolution, to radio and TV broadcasters who are watching the face of the industry morph on a daily basis, to freelance actors who are watching new platforms develop in webisodes and the spectrum of new media. Each of the five national contracts negotiated this year included new language dealing with the digitization of our industry. These are not the final terms for these new areas of work but they are a secure place from which to grow. And grow we shall.”

The Board of Directors also received a confidential informational report on the findings of the Booz Allen Hamilton Commercials Study that was jointly commissioned and funded by AFTRA, SAG, and the advertising industry’s ANA/AAAA Joint Policy Committee on Broadcast Talent Union Relations (JPC). The report was informational only and no action was taken by the Board.

National Executive Director Kim Roberts Hedgpeth reported that AFTRA has collected over $17.3 million in claims for AFTRA members during the fiscal year ending April 30, 2008, up from $14 million in fiscal year 2007.Board members unanimously endorsed the I.AM.PWD Tri-Union initiative, which will officially kick off its campaign at simultaneous press conferences scheduled for Monday, October 6, in New York, Los Angeles and Washington, DC. The I.AM.PWD campaign is a global civil rights campaign seeking equal employment opportunities for artists and professionals with disabilities throughout the entertainment and news media. Founded in 2008 by the AFTRA, AEA, and SAG, the Tri-Union Performers with Disabilities Committee

I.AM.PWD is dedicated to ending the discrimination and exclusion of performers and broadcasters with disabilities. I.AM.PWD is uniting labor, industry, community and governmental allies in the fight to combat continuing discrimination against people with disabilities. President Reardon will announce the campaign from the First Amendment Room at the National Press Club where AFTRA First National Vice President and Peabody Award-winning journalist Bob Edwards will host.

The National Board delegated authority to its Administrative Committee to approve an extension to the AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement—first pioneered by AFTRA in the early 1990s—if satisfactory terms for an extension can be agreed upon by AFTRA and videogame employers. The current AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement is set to expire on December 31, 2008. Board members also approved extensions of the AFTRA Electronic Media Agreement and the AFTRA Infomercial, Video New Release, and Local Station Promo Agreements.

Past AFTRA National President Shelby Scott, who currently serves as Union Chair of the AFTRA Health & Retirement Trustees, reported that the AFTRA Health Pension Fund investments are stable despite recent fluctuations in the market due to the volatile economic climate in the US. “People are anxious about the economy, concerned about their jobs, and wondering if their retirement income will provide enough to live on,” said Scott. “The AFTRA Pension plan is a defined benefit plan—meaning your promised benefits which have been earned to date are safe and will be paid to you. The AFTRA Pension plan was 97% funded at the last valuation. This means that even if no more contributions are made, and even with the downturn in the market, the Plan can and will make good on all benefits promised and accrued to date.”Saturday’s National Board meeting was held in the memory of longtime AFTRA members: New York broadcaster Ike Pappas, actor Paul Newman, voiceover legend Don LaFontaine, and AFTRA Washington/Baltimore legal counsel and 2005 AFTRA Heller Gold Card winner, Tom Powers, all of whom passed away since the Board last met on June 6, 2008.The AFTRA National Board will next meet in February 2009.

This report has been edited for space. For the full details visit www.aftra.com.

LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK — October 5, 2008

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Local Office Renovation Completed

During renovation all operations of the Local were conducted from the conference room next door. Michele Dooley is shown here seated at AFTRA Command Central.

2008 has brought changes to the Philadelphia Local. We bid retiring Executive Director John Kailin goodbye and welcomed new E. D. Ste-

phen Leshinski. As Exeutive Director Leshinski settled in it seemed like a good time for a general house clean-ing which lead to ideas about re-organizing the office space. Of course that lead to knocking down walls, in-stalling new carpeting and, well, let’s face it — a com-plete renovation.

The photo behind this text shows the stripped down “under construction” version of the area that will be a common space where Members can relax if they’re in the neighborhood. Work on the space has now been completed. The photo was taken after the walls were painted and the carpet was about to be installed. Plans include offering WiFi access to the Web along with comfortable chairs and other ameneties.

The renovated space offers a smoother to navigate work environment for the Local staff and a nicer place for Members to visit on business or just to take a break while in Center City.

To celebrate the new, improved office the Board and Staff invite you to attend an open house for the holidays on December �7th from 4:�0 to 7:�0 p.m.. Look for a flier soon with open house details. Executive Director Stephen Leshinski carries on in his tem-

porary work space with Lynn Koenigsburg looking on.

It was a major mess with walls coming down, carpet ripped up and staff in temporary work-spaces but the work is now done and the new office space is a breath of fresh air.

Photos by Michele Dooley

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Are you in The Guide?

Search AFTRA Talent

The AFTRA Philadelphia online tal-ent guide—The 21st century cast-ing solution. A listing in the Online Talent Guide is free to Paid up aftra members—and it’s free to producers and directors looking for talent.

To learn more visit:http://www.aftraphiladelphia.com

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Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Awards Gala /20th Anniversary By Jerry Wells

Standing ovation after stand-ing ovation rocked the Kim-mel Center’s Verizon Hall

Tuesday night, September 9th as the Philadelphia-based Rhythm and Blues Foundation presented its 2008 Pioneer Awards and celebrat-ed its own 20th Anniversary.

Hosted by former honorees Di-onne Warwick and Jerry Butler plus foundation member and singer Bonnie Raitt and Emmy-winning “everything man” Wayne Brady; the awards gala, their 15th, hon-ored artists from the semi-obscure blues artist Sugar Pie DeSanto to the world renowned Chaka Khan, who received their Lifetime Achievement Award. The Legacy Award went to the late singer-musician-composer Donny Hathaway. Other honor-ees included Teena Marie, Bill Withers, DeSanto, the Whispers and Kool and the Gang. Famed Motown studio musicians The Funk Broth-ers, received the Sidemen Award for their work on countless Motown hits and Stax Records executive Al Bell got the Ahmet Ertegun Leadership Award, named for the late Atlantic records head, a founding member of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.

The Rhythm and Blues Founda-tion is dedicated to providing fi-nancial and medical assistance to often exploited and usually under-compensated pioneer R+B artists in need and to providing educational outreach and performance opportu-nities. Starting with a $1.5 million dollar grant from Atlantic Records, they’ve contributed over $100,000 each year and as-sisted hundreds of pioneer R+B artists who’ve fallen on hard times and often can no longer perform. Petitioning for royalty reform, they’ve also received money from a few other record companies, but have more often been ignored. This event is their primary source of funding for this worthy cause. The event also featured an auc-

tion of personal items donated by celebrities like Patti Labelle and Janet Jackson.

In attendance were an array of local and national mu-sic figures including Aretha Franklin, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, TV and radio personality Jerry Blavat, Sigma Sound’s Joe Tarsia, Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge

and many, many others. Rhythm and Blues Foundation Chairman of the Board Kendall Minter and Execu-tive Director Patricia Wilson Aden along with event Chairs Judy Tint and Octavius “Ted” Reid also han-dled onstage presentations. Mayor Michael Nutter delivered the city of Philadelphia’s official tribute.

The program began with a video produced by Philly’s Teamwork Productions and narrated by radio personality Gary Shepherd outlining the evolution of rhythm and blues music from gospel through swing, jazz, doo-wop, soul, reggae and rap. Accompanying the video were per-

formances featuring Philly keyboard player Bill Jolly leading the Rhythm and Blues Foundation Band in-cluding his brother Brett on bass and an all star lineup of musicians and singers. This group also accompanied all the evening’s performances. Among the perform-ers were Sound of Philadelphia mainstay Bunny Sigler performing the jazz segment, Wayne Brady doing Ray

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Bill Withers

Charles for the Soul segment and rap star Chuck D of Public Enemy handling the rap portion. There was also a video tribute to R+B personalities who passed away this year, among them Isaac Hayes, Atlantic Records’ Jerry Wexler and Ahmet Ertegun, two members of the Spinners and others. Motown veteran G.C. Cameron sang his hit “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yester-day” from the “Cooley High” soundtrack as accompa-niment.

In addition to all the hosts doing some of their own hits, as each honoree was introduced, a medley of their music was performed, either by the artist themselves or one of the other musical guests. Saucy septuagenar-ian soul singer Sugar Pie DeSanto electrified the crowd with her singing and dance moves that even included a mid-song somersault. Top that, Beyonce! Bill Withers’ songs were sung by neo-soul artist Anthony Hamilton; Wayne Brady and Kenny Lattimore channeled Donny Hathaway; Kool and the Gang’s hits were done by Bill Jolly and the band, who rocked the house, and more artists, among them Betty Wright, took part in a tribute to Stax Records’ Al Bell. Chaka Khan, Teena Marie, the Whispers, Sugar Pie DeSanto, and the Funk Broth-ers all performed their own music. Surprise presenter Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin brought Chaka Khan to tears when she presented Chaka’s Lifetime Achieve-ment Award.

Someone should present an award to the Rhythm and Blues Foundation both for the tremendous and worth-while work they do and for putting on one BANGIN’ show!

Jerome C. (Jerry) Wells, AFTRA member, Philadel-phia native and Philly based media professional, is probably best known for “The Morning Party,” his highly rated morning show heard on WDAS-FM from the mid ‘70’s to mid ‘80’s.

AUDIOMAX IS 25!

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In 1983, Robert Horner formulated the concept of providing informative messages to be played to callers waiting on-hold. The next year Mr.

Horner enlisted the assistance of two close friends to help get the business off the ground. Ken Gehl-haus worked on the technical aspects while Craig Shoemaker handled the creative side of the business. As the concept began to take hold, Rob reached out to another good friend, Anthony Stagliano, to come on-board to be the managing partner and to focus on the sales and marketing of the company. Stagliano joined Audiomax in 1987, and in 1990, was named President.

Today, in 2008, Audiomax stands as one of the oldest and largest providers of its kind in the indus-try, and has set the standard for quality and service. Along the way, Audiomax expanded its services to provide background music, in-store audio messag-ing, and a variety of other audio services.

To celebrate reaching the 25 year mark Audiomax threw a party on October 10th at the Waterford Ball-room at the Radisson Valley Forge. Former employ-ees, current staff, business associates and AFTRA voice talent were treated to a full evening of fun. Af-ter cocktails and dinner attendees watched a slide show featuring photos taken at Audiomax during the past twenty five years, and were treated to a roast of Anthony Stagliano presented by his friend since childhood comedian Craig Shoemaker.

Since the mid ‘80s Audiomax has relied on AFTRA talent to record their on-hold messages. Philadelphia AFTRA salutes Audiomax on reaching the 25 year mark and looks forward to working with them for at least another 25 years.

For more information on Audiomax visit their web-site: http://www.audiomax.com(SESSIONS will have party photos next issue.)

Long time employer of

AFTRA talent throws

a celebration!

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Shop Steward’s Hand-book

I’m very pleased to be able to report to you that our collective bargaining unit here at ‘MMR completed another three year agreement with our company (Greater Media) earlier this sum-

mer. Off and on over the course of six months, our staff gathered with the company and presented our case. We began the journey under the guidance of John Kailin (who recently retired) and con-cluded with our new AFTRA guru, Steve Leshinski, helped out all along by Shelley Figures from the local office. By the way, I really have to commend the staff for their firm, yet non combative approach that sought to find common ground by asking what the company needed while not abandoning our goals.

So, in an age where voice-tracking threatens to dismantle the character of a station (and should be fought as hard as possible everywhere) we were able to once again maintain our live and local sound with five full-time air shifts. At a radio station like ‘MMR with a 40 year heritage this is vital! We were also able to achieve a nice wage bump for part-timers in addition to adding off-air producers to the contract. While it saddens me to observe the diminishing effectiveness of unions nation-wide, it encourages me to know that a united staff, working together for ALL the people in the unit, can still make a positive difference!Pierre RobertShop StewardWMMR-FM

Moving Forward Together through AFTRABy building strength at the bargaining table through AFTRA, the staff at WMMR negotiated a new contract in July 2008 with significant improvements.New Benefits:

• Wage increases for Part Time staff of over $�/hr for 2008 and �% for both 2009 and 20�0• Wage increases for Full Time staff (without a PSC) of �2% over three years• Two new holidays for Part Time staff• Two new personal days• Comp days for working special events• Producers now covered by the contract• And the preservation of five full-time live on-air shifts

This in addition to the current AFTRA benefits:HealthPensionSeveranceNoticeAnd a grievance/arbitration procedure, all in a legally-bind-

ing written contract.For more information on the new contract and your AFTRA benefits, please call Stephen Leshinski at 215.732.0507 or send an e-mail to: sleshinski@aftra.com.

•••••

WMMR staff inks new AFTRA contract!

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

www.aftra.com

Los Angeles5757 Wilshire Boulevard, 9th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90036323.634.8100

AFTRA Weingarten CardYour “Weingarten Rights” as an AFTRA Member

Know Your Weingarten Rights!

(If called into a meeting with management, read the following tomanagement or present this card before the meeting starts.)

If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined, or affect my personal working conditions, I respectfully request that my AFTRA Representative be present at this meeting. Without repre-sentation being present, I choose not to participate in the discussion.

AFTRA Local Representative:

If you’re called in for a meeting that may be related to discipline or your personal working conditions you have the right to have an AFTRA Representative present at the meeting. Always carry this card:

WMMR’s Pierre Robert with Lucy.

If you have questions about your rights in the workplace the first person to contact is your shop steward. Your steward knows the ins and outs of your contract and has their own copy oof The Legal Rights of Union Stewards, a book that gives your steward information on labor law, the grievance process, and a lot more. Remember —Questions? Steward first.

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Notes From The Director By Stephen Leshinski

A week ago a friend told me he was called into his boss’s office, on a Friday afternoon, and told to close the door. They were letting him go.

No notice, no severance, that was it. It wasn’t even his fault: the company, a cultural institution in New York City, was suffering from budget problems and needed to lay off twenty percent of their staff so he was out the door.

It struck me that although the economy is the same for everyone the ramifications are different for union vs. non-union folks. Recently at Metro Shadow, the traf-fic/news/weather broadcasting company, the company reorganized across the coun-try and laid-off fifteen percent of its workforce, including a group of AFTRANs here in Philadelphia. The difference between this group and where my friend worked is as AFTRA members they had the right to negotiate the severance package and from what was put on the table at the start of the day to where the package ended up we rough-ly doubled the severance pay, including an additional month of health benefits for full-timers and severance for all part-time staff based upon actual hours worked.

But it’s not only economics that cost people their jobs; on occasion a dispute arises between the company and the employee and the company wants to terminate the employee. We’ve been involved in a number of these cases over the summer, some just and some unjust, but in all cases we represent the employee, investigate all of the facts, and advocate on behalf of the employee a fair and reasonable settlement. When a settlement can-not be reached we have brought cases to arbitration, a process that can costs thousands in legal and other fees that are entirely paid for by AFTRA; another benefit of being in a union during these unpredictable economic times. A recent dispute with a station was resolved to the artist’s great satisfaction.

Which brings us to the issue of “Non-Compete”. These clauses, while originally meant to protect the station from having its talent cherry-picked away, have now swung so far the other way that it must be our num-

ber one legislative issue for AFTRA here in Philadel-phia. Too many of our broadcasters are the victim of format changes or changes in the pro-gramming depart-ment beyond their control which, even if they are receiving salaries, puts them on the

sideline and takes their name out of circulation which can have serious consequences to their career. New York re-cently joined a list of states banning non-compete clauses in artists contracts and here in

Philadelphia we have to join with our Pittsburgh office and other artists throughout the state to pass legislation banning this onerous restriction and freeing people to not only earn a living but have a career.

Lastly, rough economic times don’t only affect our broadcasters. Many of our freelance staff rely on AF-TRA for their health and retirement benefits and with all of the recent upheaval it’s more important than ever to be assured that these funds are in good hands and are administered with a high standard of fiduciary re-sponsibility to safeguard what, for many people, will be the number one source of retirement funds for some people in possibly only a few short years. For more in-formation AFTRA H&R, as well as to access services and discounts available to members of AFTRA please check the union website at www.AFTRA.com or give us a call here at the office and someone on staff will be happy to answer any questions or provide information you may require.

During these times of crisis it can seem that we’re all on a small boat in the middle of a big ocean but the pro-tections and provisions offered by AFTRA and all other unions is significantly greater than what most people have in their workplace; just ask my friend.

“Too many of our broadcasters are the victim of format changes or changes in the programming department beyond their control”

In tough economic times being a union member is a plus.

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SESSIONS is also online atwww.aftraphiladelpia.com/sessionsRead Nat Wright’s History of The Philadelphia Local at www.aftraphiladelphia.com/convention/history.html

In This Issue

CONGRATULATIONS!• Monica Avery, Producer (CBS3)• Jim Barry, Producer (CBS3)• Stephanie Carson, Producer (CBS3)• Tracy Davidson, News Anchor (NBC10)• Jim Donovan, Consumer Reporter (CBS3)• Jonelle Fabian, Producer (CBS3)• Christina Hagegeorge, Producer (CBS3)• Harry Hairston, Reporter (NBC10)• Walt Hunter, Reporter (CBS3)• Colin Macaulay, Producer (NBC10)• Jade McCarthy, Reporter (NBC10)• Kathy Orr, Weather Anchor (CBS3)• James Osman, Investigative Reporter (CBS3)• Lisa Santoro, Producer (CBS3)• Joan Sill, Producer (CBS3)

The Board and Staff of the Philadelphia Local of AFTRA tip their hats to the AFTRA Members awarded Emmys at the 2008 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards, Saturday, Sep-tember 13, 2008.

AFTRA Marches in Labor Day Parade 1

National Board Report 2

President’s Report 2

Local Office Renovation Completed 3

Rhythm and Blues Foundation Gala 4

Audiomax Celebrates 25th Anniversary 5

WMMR staff inks new AFTRA contract! 6

Notes From The Director 7

Tip of The Hat to Emmy Winners 8

Save the Date—for the Open House/Holiday PartyWednesday, December 17, 4:30-7:30 p.m.