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Radio Union

C

ChannelFlipper

So I was reading through the Dial Global thread and noted that Hot Hits says that they have fired over 90% of their union staff. Which in my mind brings up an obvious question - What does the union really do for those professionals that are in it?

It is clear they cannot protect your jobs, they only have limited input standardized pay rates, and frankly, the more they win in their negotiations, the more likely it is that their people will be the first to go when the fit hits the shan. Seems to me that radio union employees have a permanent target on their backs.

The fact of the matter is, when it comes to radio labor supply and demand, there is still way too much supply to fill the demand (which decreases constantly due to technological improvements, as discussed on that thread as well). In that oversupply situation, a union can only prop up wages for so long. Eventually market forces demand equilibrium, and radio companies will find always find a way to use lower-fee talent that is non-union whenever possible.

Before the haters start hating, this is not intended to be a discussion of whether unions in and of themselves are good or bad - that is a completely different discussion that will only devolve into partisan politics. My question is straight-forward and primarily aimed at radio union employees themselves - Is the union helping or hurting you, and how?
 
My AFTRA scale pay in San Diego was about $3,000 a month when I was doing news at KCBQ in 1979 and about $3,000 a month when I was doing news at SHADOW/METRO in 1999. It was a lot better deal in 1979 :)

I do recall that when I came back to San Diego from KHJ in late 1980, my AFTRA health care stayed in effect for about a year after I left the KHJ AFTRA gig. That was a nice benefit, but for a 30-year-old, it was not really appreciated at the time. What did have an impact was how gutless I thought AFTRA was during contract negotiations with the owners of KCBQ. It impressed on me that this was not a union with huevos. Station owners who walked over AFTRA knew there was nothing to fear, at least not in San Diego.

Just the other day I was thinking about how AFTRA crippled radio and TV's entry into online broadcasting because of that whole thing about wanting royalties for ads that ran during online feeds. We watch all our TV online now and the LA and San Diego Fox news live streams run logos or station promos during commercial breaks and it actually would be better TV with ads rather than static logos and endless replays of the same Fox promos with the anchors reminding us we are family. I guess AFTRA's intent was to force the stations to ante up royalties, but that didn't happen and all it did was further weaken traditional broadcasting and ironically has probably contributed to the reduction in jobs in radio and TV.

Now I will say that because of my seven years of AFTRA gig during 30 years on the air, I am entitled to a $370 a month pension. I will spend it wisely.
 
At one time I was a member of NABET (during my time in engineering) and then later AFTRA (for on-air). It was pointed out to me by the AFTRA local president that the goal of the union is to serve the majority of its members. And radio isn't the majority of either union. It's similar to the NAB in that way. It represents its members. If radio wants an organization that looks out for its talent, it needs to be focused on radio. The fact that AFTRA aligned with RIAA against radio owners in the performance royalty debate is all you need to know about AFTRA.
 
IMHO, AFTRA's main goal is to perpetuate itself. By that, I mean maximize membership and--above all--revenue. I was at a station where it was like pulling teeth to get them to help an air talent who was fired unfairly. They don't care about their members--at least not in any example I've seen. (Maybe BigA is right, and they actually DO care about members who aren't just in radio.)
 
I always thought the acronym said it all even before the marriage with SAG....
American Federation of Televison and Radio Artists....

In Chicago even as late as the mid 80's the union did have some teeth, but in a lot of cases talent was represented by an agent who got you a contract that paid way above scale, so the union was more for setting the baseline salary for entry level talent on entry level stations in the market.
 
Shannon said:
AFTRA isn't perfect. I worked without it and with it. I would choose to work with it anytime!

Jim Shannon
Click to expand...
I'd take AFTRA over nothing any day myself as well.
 
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