TEAMSTERS LOCAL 399 QUARTERLY NEWS FEBRUARY 2015 • ISSUE No 4 TEAMSTERS TEAMSTERS HARD WORKING STANDING STRONG LOCAL 399 NEW YEAR LOCAL 399 NEW CHALLENGES GREETINGS SISTERS & BROTHERS e had a great 2014! We were busier this year than in We will also be discussing your ideas for contract proposals at the recent years and 2015 looks to be an even better upcoming general membership meetings. year for our Membership with the passing of tax incentive As you know, we have not had a bill AB1839! dues increase since 2010. To help put our Local on a sound financial We reached settlements with Warner footing going forward, beginning Bros. over meal money violations. To in April, our dues will go up $5.00 date, WB has paid our members more per month. This will also greatly than $40,000.00 in meal penalties reduce the need for special assess- that occurred from August 2013 on, ments in the future. Please read the and our Courier Dispatchers received “Dues Increase in 2015” article in Wan additional $23,000.00 in meal this issue for much more infor- penalty payments. mation on this change. We had a near-record turn out We will continue to meet for the ratification meeting with all of our com- on January 11th regarding mittees and look for- the tentative agreement with ward to greatly expand- the AICP, which covers approx- ing our education classes imately 500-600 Members who in 2015. Our revamped web- work regularly in the commercial site will roll out in February and industry. Those in attendance voted our new callboard software system at that time to reject the initial agree- should be in place by the end of the ment, thus authorizing a strike action, first quarter. We will continue to be and we are asking all members to visiting you on sets to discuss your contact the Call Board to sign up for issues and concerns. picket line duty. Obviously, a strike I believe we’re making the difficult is never the first choice in resolving decisions that need to be made in issues and we are continuing to work order for our Membership to thrive towards an equitable solution. It and prosper into the future. We was a spirited meeting, and I want to cannot do it without your support acknowledge all who attended for taking an active roll in their union and counsel. I hope and encourage you to make every effort to and encourage all to do so. Go to ht399.org for updates on this issue. participate in your Union and make this a great year! There is much more work ahead for the staff in the coming year. Negotia- tions for our basic agreements with the major studios will be taking place this I wish you and yours a happy and prosperous New Year! year. We have prepared a Membership survey (please see survey notice in this issue) for you to fill out online or return to us via mail. Please take the time to Fraternally, Steve Dayan let us know where you think we should focus our attention in these negotiations. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 2 __ PAGE 7 THE BIZ: The Importance of the Log Book Western Conference of 7-day Recap Teamsters Pension Trust PAGE 8 & 9 _ PAGE 3 __ SPOTLIGHT: Casting Associates No Cost Financial Workshop Sony Pictures Employee Announcement for 399 Members PAGE 10 PAGE 4 __ James Hoffa Scholarship Commercials: An Evolving Industry Memorial Fund Call for Entrees www.ht399.org PAGE 5 ___________ PAGE 11 Visit your Union website: Union your Visit 246 N PERMIT o AMPTP Contracts set to expire Local 399 website gets a new look Van Nuys, CA Nuys, Van In 2015 91602-1262 PAGE 12 PAID North Hollywood, CA Hollywood, North PAGE 6 Events, Announcements, Retirees and U.S. POSTAGE U.S. Dues to Increase in 2015 4747 Vineland Avenue Vineland 4747 Obituaries NON-PROFIT ORG. NON-PROFIT Teamsters Local 399 Local Teamsters RELEVANT INDUSTRY ARTICLES FROM TOP ENTERTAINMENT SOURCES NO COST FINANCIAL WORKSHOP FREE ADVICE FOR ALL LOCAL 399 MEMBERS THE MOTION PICTURE BUZZ The Society for Financial Awareness, through up these workshops in the coming months and AFL-CIO Labor Community Services has intro- offering them to the Membership free of cost. duced a program to help Members find finan- Whether you are just starting your career or THE WESTERN CONFERENCE OF cial comfort and success. The time has come a seasoned Teamster the time is now to start to break the cycle of Financial Mediocrity and planning for your retirement. The Local is level the playing field by raising the bar for looking to empower and educate Members so all. Just like a trade, you can learn to master that they and their families are equipped to TEAMSTERS PENSION TRUST the art and science of personal finances – all it plan for the future and protect against unfore- takes is knowledge and discipline. seen financial burdens. n mid-December, Congress passed, and the Pres- It allows the benefits of retirees to be reduced SOFA offers 3 workshops to equip and empow- You work hard for your money, let SOFA ident signed the Omnibus Spending Bill. The in limited and specifically defined circumstanc- er all Members to plan and achieve financial teach you how to make your paycheck go far- legislation is lengthy, complex and controversial. es. This is the section of the Act that has generated goals: Early Career, Mid Career and Pre-re- ther and help to minimize financial stress in Yes, it kept the doors of government open, but it the most publicity and controversy. It amends the also included a section dubbed the Multi-Employ- Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 tirement. Teamsters Local 399 will be setting your life. er Pension Reform Act of 2014, which makes major which prohibited a reduction (cutback) in a retiree’s changes to the multi-employer funding and with- pension benefits. The legislation will allow a reduc- drawal liability rules. You may hear this new law re- tion, but only if a plan is “Severely Underfunded and ferred to as MEPRA. in Critical and Declining Status and facing Insolven- The changes under MEPRA cy in less than 20 years.” In Iare comprehensive, as we “Answers to your reality, there are only a few said controversial, and in plans across the Country WHO questions about the A 501(c)3 Non-Profit organization some instances misunder- that would face reductions, providing relevant financial education as a stood. Omnibus Spending Bill & and the Western Conference value added service through… Multi-Employer Pension of Teamsters Pension Plan is The media stories following not one of them. FINANCIAL WORKSHOPS the law’s passage have creat- Reform Act 2014” ed a myriad of questions and generated emotions, running By: Chuck Mack EARLY CAREER MID-CAREER RETIREMENT PLANNING January 2, 2015 the gamut from concern to WHAT MEPRA Fundamentals of personal Fundamentals of personal Developing plans for reducing panic. finances with an emphasis on finances with an emphasis on debt, distribution planning, understanding employer building wealth and reducing taxation, Social Security Hopefully this communica- WILL NOT DO WHAT savings plans and getting risk while gearing up for maximization and avoiding tion will -- answer questions that Retirees, Mem- started on the right track funding retirement outliving financial assets bers, staff and representatives might have about the It will NOT reduce retirement benefits of retir- ** Custom workshops also available at no cost new law -- reduce Member/Retiree anxiety levels ees or actives under the Western Conference Plan and -- and point out what the legislation will do, what it MPIPHP. We have never been deeply troubled, seri- won’t do, and the specific impact it will have on the ously underfunded or in a critical declining state. We Some of our Brothers and Sisters struggle from paycheck to paycheck in an endless pattern of fi- operations of the Western Conference of Teamsters are, and always have been, in the PPA’s “green zone”, nancial frustration while their co-workers find financial comfort and success. The time has come Pension Trust and your Motion Picture Plans. the best funded zone under law. The Plan’s actuaries to break the cycle of financial mediocrity and level the playing field by raising the bar for all. believe our future funding outlook remains strong. Just like a trade, you can learn to master the art and science of personal finances. It only takes WHY knowledge and discipline. These workshops are offered to equip and empower all Members to It will NOT affect our asset or liability base. The plan and achieve financial goals. WHAT WILL MEPRA DO? Western Conference Plan is the largest multi-employ- er plan in the United States, and we continue to grow. Our assets are close to 37 billion dollars. It extends the Pension Protection Act (PPA). The first SOFA workshop hosted by Teamsters Local 399 will take place on The PPA was originally passed in 2006 and was set It will NOT affect how our assets are invested. WHERE to terminate at the end of 2014. The new law ex- Over the past 20 years, our annual return on invest- Saturday, February 7th, 2015. tends PPA indefinitely. ments has averaged 8.4%. & The workshop is open to all Teamsters Local 399 Members however space is very limited only 20 spots available. You must RSVP to attend. It increases the Pension Benefit Guarantee In short, the new law will NOT affect the oper- WHEN Contact Business Agent Lindsay Dougherty at: [email protected] to reserve a spot.