EQUITYACTORS’ EQUITY: STANDING UP FOR OURNEWS MEMBERS DECEMBER 2015 / Volume 100 / Number 9 www.actorsequity.org January Membership Equity’s New Production Contract Ratified Meetings Set Changes to Eligibility Requirements for Start off 2016 by attending an Equity Membership Meeting Health Care Help All Members The Eastern Regional Membership Meeting will convene he new Production bargaining partner will help the agreement, including on Friday, January 8, 2016, at 2 p.m. EST in the Council Room Contract has been full Equity membership. improvements that make sick on the 14th floor of the Equity building at 165 West 46th Street, ratified by a 97.04% “Because of these leave available for more New York, New York. T “yes” vote and is in effect negotiations, the trustees of the members, access to physical The agenda will include: immediately. The compensation Equity-League Health Fund therapy, stronger language • Presentation of the St. Clair Bayfield Award and the Joe A. increases of the new four-year have approved a change to the regarding schedule changes Callaway Award contract are retroactive to eligibility requirements that will and housing for tours. • Report of the Eastern Regional Director September 28, 2015. The benefit all of our members who For the first time, the • Report of the Eastern Regional Vice President contract will expire in 2019. work under contract, and this Production Contract ratification change is guaranteed for the vote was conducted exclusively • Membership discussion period in accordance with the by- In an historic move, a change to the eligibility requirements to four years of the new contract,” online, saving the union tens of laws access health insurance will said Executive Director Mary thousands of dollars to be put The Central Regional Membership Meeting will convene benefit all members for the life McColl. “Put simply: It’s easier toward member services. on Monday, January 11, 2016, at 6 p.m. CST in the Member of this current Production for our members, everywhere, to “I’m proud of the work we’ve Center (1st floor) of the Equity building at 557 West Randolph Contract. Now, a member may access health coverage. And accomplished at the bargaining Street, Chicago, Illinois. work 11 weeks under any Equity that’s fantastic.” table this year,” said McColl. “I’m The agenda will include: contract to achieve health Monetary gains within the honored to have sat alongside coverage for six months and 19 new contract increase in each Councillors, members and staff • Report of the Central Regional Director weeks to gain a full year of year of the contract. Important who worked effectively to • Report of the Central Regional Vice President health coverage. This is the first quality of life issues are also achieve gains in areas that are • Membership discussion period in accordance with the by- time a negotiation with one addressed in the new most important to our members.” laws The Western Regional Membership Meeting will convene on Monday, January 11, 2016, at 11 a.m. PST at I.A.T.S.E. Local 80 Meeting Hall (Ground Floor) at 2520 West EquityTakes a “Break” Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91505. Free All Day Street Parking. The agenda will include: Union opens new fourth floor waiting space in • Report of the Western Regional Director Equity’s NYC headquarters • Report of the Western Regional Vice President • Membership discussion period in accordance with the by- ust in time to escape the laws brisk early morning low Jtemps in New York City, Note: The Annual Membership Meeting is Friday, April 8, Equity’s new fourth floor waiting 2016, in all regions. The regions will be connected so that all space opened on Monday, Nov. members may hear the statements of the candidates running for 9, for members waiting for election to Council. Please check the Member Portal for any auditions, audition signups and VITA appointments. No longer additional information or changes about all Membership will anyone have to brave rain, Meetings. frigid temps or hot, muggy For members with disabilities who would like to request an weather. Complete with free Wi- accommodation to participate in the Membership Meeting, Fi access, this dedicated respite please contact Governance Associate Allison Bodwell at 212- for use by members, EMCs and 869-8530 ext. 318 two weeks prior to the meeting. non-members who are auditioning, is located in the sky and help facilitate the audition beverages are welcome inside lobby of the NYC Equity building process. the room, which will Successful and is open from 6 a.m. to 5:30 The area features free Wi-Fi occasionally double as a p.m. Monday through Friday. and iPad stations, allowing meeting space for union COST The new space, which will members and guests the business. Additionally, three alleviate waiting lines outside Negotiation opportunity to visit the public digital screens will keep the building, and serve as an Equity website, peruse the members and guests informed includes Salary overflow room for the official official Equity Casting Call page about pertinent Equity news, audition center, will be staffed or pay dues online in the information and key Increases and daily by a receptionist, who will Member Portal. Also, food and announcements. a NewTier be on-hand to answer questions ith the recent to the basic COST Agreement ASMs will receive a minimum of changes its season after Equity conclusion of the more closely rather than two days of paid pre-production. Principal Auditions have been Council of Stock W negotiate individually,” said Chief And, stage managers and ASMs held, and will be scheduling Theatres, or COST, negotiations Negotiator Beverly A. Sloan. “It will now receive tech week auditions for the new on October 7, 2015, which will also give members greater compensation of 1/6th of production, producers shall Council approved on November security in knowing basic terms contractual salary for each 17, 2015, the new four-year (continued on page 3) Periodicals Postage Paid at New York, NY and Additional Mailing Offices as they move from one COST production. agreement will introduce a theater to another.” Minimum salaries will brand new COST tier, 2+. Tier The negotiations, which increase 2% in each of the first Index 2+ is meant to aid those spanned three days, provided two years of the agreement and NEWS employers functioning in the Year in Review .....................2 benefits on both sides, as Sloan 2.5% in years three and four in sphere between tiers two and noted that the union achieved all all categories. From the President ................3 three to get from one tier to the of its proposals in some form. Actors will be able to submit next. #EquityWorks .......................3 UITY An additional assistant stage their own recorded audition if a “Tier 2+ will fill the substantial Annual Report ......................7 165 West 46th Street New York, NY 10036 Address Service Requested Paid in New York, NY manager is now required for producer requests to see them Q gap between Tiers 2 and 3 and E chorus musicals and large cast but they are unavailable for a In Memoriam ......................16 help enable producers to adhere productions in the top two tiers. scheduled audition. If a theater 2 / EQUITY news DECEMBER 2015 Area Liaison Hotline system Call 877-AEA-1913 2015 Equity has a national toll-free hotline system for members who live in area liaison and office cities. The number is 877-AEA- 1913 (honoring the year of Equity’s founding). Each Area Liaison city has its own January/February • Equity celebrates the legalization of same-sex extension, where members can • Equity News turns marriage. Council unanimously passed resolutions in access news and information 100. First published in the past in support of marriage equality everywhere. in their region. 1915, the union’s July/August publication celebrates (1) Dial 877-AEA-1913 • Council approves the new four-year TYA contract, its own centennial with (2) Dial your city extension: which features substantial monetary gains for a full-page spread in members as well as safe and sanitary improvements. 811 Atlanta the paper celebrating • Councillors and members march in New York 812 Austin/San Antonio the numerous, colorful City’s First Annual Disability Pride Parade in honor of 813 Boston renditions of its the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Americans 814 Buffalo/Rochester history. with Disabilities Act. 815 Chicago Equity • • The union declares July 8, 2015, as Ask If It’s 816 Cincinnati/Louisville celebrates Black Equity Day to celebrate members on tour across the History Month with an 817 Cleveland country. 818 Dallas/Fort Worth exclusive panel September 819 Denver • Members across the country march in their local 820 Detroit Labor Day Parades, marching in solidarity 821 Florida – Central and showing their union pride. 822 Florida – South 823 Houston 824 Kansas City 825 Las Vegas 826 Los Angeles 827 Milwaukee/Madison 828 Minneapolis/St Paul 829 Nashville sponsored 830 New Orleans by the EEO committee. The 831 New York union’s event encouraged panelists to discuss their 832 Philadelphia careers and how Broadway has changed their lives. 833 Phoenix/Tucson March 834 Pittsburgh • Late this month, Eastern Regional Vice 835 San Diego President Melissa Robinette, Chorus Councillor 836 San Francisco Allyson Tucker, CRB non-Councillor Peggy Thorp and October/November 837 Seattle Senior Business Representative Larry Lorczak attend • The New York Equity office opens its Fourth 838 St. Louis National Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. Floor Waiting Space for members to relax in while they 839 Washington DC/Baltimore where they pushed for more arts funding, spoke about wait for auditions, audition sign-ups or VITA wireless mic issues, 401(k) funding through the arts appointments.