[Fmpro] Letter to the Editor Local 47

[Scott Healy]

While I appreciate the AFofM v/s/v PRO analogy, it's a little
apple-orangy to me. It seems like publishers and songwriters/composers
(or their reps, the PROS) have had their act together for about a decade
regarding new media, downloads, everything else and are getting paid,
although obviously there are many discrepancies and inequities.

The unions however are imploding. 

I never really understood the "suit" conceit; are these jobs really so
good that they'll do anything to keep them? Don't they get voted in no
matter what they do? Seems musicians are notoriously uninvolved in their
own affairs. What's the profit motive here for these guys?

My impression is that the industry looks down at the AFofF "suits" who
are our national reps. They're "old school", maybe even old
chronologically, understaffed, not paid a lot, highly dedicated though,
and they go up against teams of hot shots who have nothing but time and
money behind them who wear them down.

I surmise that the AFofF cats are trying hard to take a stand, but wow,
they are not in touch with reality. Maybe the reality is just to weird
and obtuse.

At local 802 we had been meeting informally to discuss the various
recording contracts, mainly film and low budget film and records, and
the various things that are being done on our behalf by the AFofF, and
coming up with ideas about how we could increase our stake in our
future, and the strength of the union. That was, of course, until a
political scandal involving the president rocked our scene, and now
everything seems a bit in flux...

>From my view the PROs are in WAY better shape than the unions, others
here may differ with that view. There's a lot of money flying around all
over the place. Follow the money, right? Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: fmpro-bounces+scotty=bluedogmusic.com at nxport.com
[mailto:fmpro-bounces+scotty=bluedogmusic.com at nxport.com] On Behalf Of
Les Hurdle
Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2006 12:35 PM
To: Rick Blanc; fmpro at nxport.com
Subject: Re: [Fmpro] Letter to the Editor Local 47


On Aug 19, 2006, at 5:39 PM, Rick Blanc wrote:

> Union reform is not possible, in my opinion, because steps toward 
> reform would systematically dismantle union power.

Isn't the real point here.... it is the power of the suits who are in 
control........... their own personal empires, just like PRO's etc.

L [pd]

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