The Recording Musicians Association
International (RMA) leadership recently disseminated
an e-mail blast that contained the following
misleading allegations about the TV/Videotape negotiations
that are currently in progress:
"Local
officers pleaded with President Lee to allow the RMA to attend
the negotiations, but they were rebuffed. And in response
to a written inquiry by RMA President Phil Ayling, President Lee
confirmed that he would not allow your Player Conference
representatives at the table or in
caucus."
The undeniable truth is that the AFM did
not refuse Phil Ayling a seat at the bargaining table at the
TV/Videotape negotiations.
Such allegations are extremely irresponsible and are part
of a larger, reckless campaign by a handful of individuals to
convince members that the AFM does not support recording
musicians.
The enclosed attachments will demonstrate
that the AFM, when officially notified, took steps to ensure
that Phil Ayling and other RMA members would be seated at the
negotiations.
When you read the attachments you will see that
none of the emails that I sent contained words that
stated or implied that "President Lee confirmed that he would
not allow your Player Conference representatives at the table or
in caucus."
The attachments begin with Phil Ayling's
e-mail to me on October 23rd, in which he informs the
AFM that he is the RMA's "rank and file" representative to the
TV/Videotape negotiations (see attachment: "AFM President and
Phil Ayling E-mails").
I responded to him that same day stating
that the Federation may have to limit the participants in this
negotiation to those who actually qualify for ratification
purposes (again, see attachment: "AFM President and Phil Ayling
E-mails"). Also in that
e-mail, I asked Phil to submit any proposals he may have
for distribution to the bargaining group and I identified the
person I appointed as the Federation's "rank and file"
representative for all recording musicians, regardless of RMA
affiliation. As you can see from the e-mail, there are no words that
state or imply that "President Lee confirmed that he would not
allow your Player Conference representatives at the table or in
caucus."
Later that evening, RMA New York President,
Roger Blanc, sent an e-mail to Local 802 Officers informing them
that RMA New York is sending four individuals to the
negotiations (see attachment: "Roger Blanc E-mail").
I then e-mailed Local 802 President, Mary
Landolfi, informing her that, due to space limitation, only
those RMA New York members who were qualified to ratify the
contract would be invited to participate in the negotiations
(see attachment: "President E-mail to Landolfi"). Again, there are no words in the
e-mail that state or imply that "President Lee confirmed that he
would not allow your Player Conference representatives at the
table or in caucus."
On October 26th, I sent two
e-mails to Nadine Sylvester, the Executive Secretary
to Secretary-Treasurer Sam Folio, asking her to include Phil
Ayling, John Acosta, Roger Blanc, and Juliet Haffner to the list
of individuals on the security list for entrance to the
negotiations. Ms.
Sylvester then sent me an email of the list of attendees, which
she confirmed with those involved in security at the
negotiations. This
list includes RMA rank and file member Phil Ayling and RMA New
York rank and file members Juliet Haffner and Roger Blanc (all
three e-mails are in the attachment "Emails to and from
Sylvester"). Again, there are no words in the e-mails that state or
imply that "President Lee confirmed that he would not allow your
Player Conference representatives at the table or in
caucus."
In addition, there are RMA International
Board members who are attending the negotiations. They are Nashville RMA
President Dave Pomeroy and, again, Roger Blanc.
Also, the Federation rank and file
representative is a member of the RMA
LA. He possesses excellent
credentials and has worked on more than 180 broadcasts a year
for several years.
This individual is well respected by his peers and is a
very strong representative for recording musicians all over
North America.
Further, the AFM has been actively
soliciting input from the rank and file in LA and New
York who are involved in television
broadcasts.
As you can see by now, the allegations that
the RMA is not represented at the negotiation have no basis in
fact and are completely without merit.
The time has long passed for such
sensationalized charges to stop. Everyone will benefit if the RMA leadership
takes a new, cooperative approach with the rest of the AFM. The RMA membership
would be best served if the RMA leadership would work with the
rest of the union to help solve the pressing problems facing
musicians today, rather than placing much of its energy on the
spread of misinformation and the fostering of division.
On a final note, I would like to publicly
condemn the RMA newsletter's recent denigration of the members
of the AFM International Executive Board. The attack on these
hardworking unionists who have dedicated their lives to the
labor movement demonstrates a complete lack of respect for those
delegates who elected the IEB members at the last
convention. Each of
the IEB members was elected on his own merit. And each had a highly
successful career in the music business before being elected to
leadership positions within the AFM. It is appalling and shows a total lack of
professionalism among the RMA leadership when their newsletter
suggests that the members of the IEB rubber stamp an agenda of
the AFM President.
This is a new low in the rhetoric emanating from the RMA
leadership and a disservice to the recording musicians in Los
Angeles who expect constructive dialogue from their RMA
representatives.
Sincerely,
Thomas F.
Lee
President
AFM
