VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:14 pm Post subject: AFTRA health plan

Am I missing something or is the AFTRA health plan exceptionally inexpensive? $633 per QUARTER for a full family at 90% coverage?

http://www.aftrahr.com/Home/HealthFund/health_glance_intro.aspx
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:24 pm Post subject:

That's $211 per month for a whole family at 90% - that seems pretty good to me. But unfortunately you have to earn $30,000 to get it.

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:30 pm Post subject:

30k a year? If you're full-time, is that hard to meet? If so, then perhaps one shouldn't be union so s/he can take non-union jobs. right?
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:36 pm Post subject:

Since AFTRA covers radio folks, as well as TV newscasters who DO have full time jobs (well, radio - these days, that's not a sure thing), there are many people who do make the minimum. But for us free lancers - in markets where there are no AFTRA sigs, just try to earn even the $10,000 grand required for the individual plan.

I used to be covered when I worked at KFMB-TV as a Staff Announcer - two days a week...but those days are long gone in more ways than one. I'm not at staffer anymore and there are no AFTRA stations left in San Diego - and only a small handful of AFTRA sigs in the production community - many of which are Talent who are Sigs so that they can run their jobs through their own companies to qualify.
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Deirdre · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:44 pm Post subject:

Yeah, getting to that $30,000 is like pulling teeth if you live outside of a Really Big City.

Anyone who joins either union outside of on of the big 3 should make sure they opt into the Financial Core setup or Conscientious objector or whateverthehell provision that lets you use your craft to support your family.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:08 pm Post subject:

So by Union rules, you're not allowed to take any non-union work?
And I'd imagine if you go Fi-core, you can't take advantage of the health benefits, correct?
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:12 pm Post subject:

If you are vested in the Union,and then go FiCore - then you rack up H&R benefits for every AFTRA job you do.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:15 pm Post subject:

oh really? Sounds like the best of both worlds: Can take both Union and non jobs and get the benefits. Any drawbacks?
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ChrisMezzolesta · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:26 pm Post subject:

I wonder how much else they changed the rules...when I had coverage it was for earning $7500 per year individual or $15,000 family (also for 4 consecutive quarters) - paid for a couple of important operations! But like everything else things go downhill...$30K now PLUS $211 per month? Man...I am vested in the H&R but as I have worked maybe 2 union gigs in the last 3 years I don't pay it much mind. When I retire (ha!) I'll probably get, like, a burrito each month...

Jeffrey, AFTRA "Rule One" is that you do not work non-union. Ever. (at least officially - though one guy was booted out of the Cleveland local for working non-union while still a full member) That $30K would have to be made up from all union work - again, like pulling teeth if you're outside NY/LA/Chi.

After the 2000 strike things were just never the same in Cleveland, and I'd imagine elsewhere too. We gained nothing and lost a lot. Lotta good that did, also brought out the "union goon" mentality in a lot of the publications and actions of both AFTRA and SAG. But I have to digress and shut up, sore spot. Times have changed. Collective bargaining would certainly help in these days of lowball VOs and lowball hirers, but the existing system just doesn't work outside the Big 3 (and probably less so within, too). Again, digressing.....
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:32 pm Post subject:

Completely personal decision - and one that took me many years to decide. There was a very long open discussion about FiCore recently on one of the boards, but of course, I can't find it.

Here are some bullet points...

1. You are not a member
2. You can't vote or run for office
3. You don't get the magazine
4. You don't get to participate in any union sponsored workshops.
5. You MAY not be able to re-join if you ever wanted to.
6. You pay nearly as much in fees as you did in dues

And some links.

http://www.corlessproductions.com/financial_core.htm
http://www.igsobm.org/AFTRA.htm
http://bizparentz.org/thebizness/unionfinancialcore.html
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ChrisMezzolesta · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject:

Nuther thing - It is a HOT BUTTON topic with staunch union folks, who see it as total encroachment on their "thing" and an erosion of everything they've built up since 1937 (and in some cases, they respond to you like you want to kill their dog). Very black & white on the issue - why would you take a non-union job NOW when you should wait for a union job and get your residuals and not stab your fellow union brothers in the back...you can always wait tables while you wait for union work! [I have actually read something like this from one of the Cleveland people] I'm not into stabbing anyone in the back, and if you perceive it that way, that is your problem, not mine - I kinda would like to pay some bills & buy some food today, and this is the way I feel I have a right to do it. As the song goes, "Nice work if you can get it", especially residuals, but other than TV, how many local/regional commercials really run for years or even multiple 13-wk cycles anymore??? The paradigm has changed but they have not.

This is not a slam on the folks THEMSELVES, but the perception that theirs is the only or best way, and it ain't. Yet, like VO in general, fi-core is not necessarily for everyone.
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