VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Deirdre · Last edited by Deirdre on Mon Jun 22, 2009 7:41 am; edited 6 times in total

Folks in AFTRA know this already— they upped the earnings floor to qualify for the AFTRA pension.

This isn't some incremental move, they increased the earnings needed by 100%, from $7500 to $15000.

Here's the lowdown on being "vested": If you have 5 years of service in which you have earned at least the minimum between 1989 and 2008, you are fully vested. Once you're vested, your contributions all carry into your pension fund.

The folks at AFTRA HR answer their phones a lot more quickly than my local office.
It just so happens that I am fully vested. So all my contributions DO go into my pension fund.
I'm glad to hear it—
However! You need 5 years' worth of pension credits to become vested. it's going to be hard on anyone who was just about to reach their 5th year.
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bobsouer · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 7:02 am Post subject:

Wow!

(In this case, that's not a "good" wow.)
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Bruce · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 7:28 am Post subject:

Much easier said than done, but I'll say it anyway...

You probably can't do anything about AFTRA, but you could try and negotiate the best raise possible with the station, or ask about taking on additional or different duties with them for more pay, and then depending on those results, try and make up the additional needed by pushing for more union commercial/narration work with your agent(s).

Just a thought....

B
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Deirdre · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 7:42 am Post subject:

Thanks Bruce! Trying to get more work from CBS is a thought I have had on more than one occasion.

Asking for more money from a broadcast radio station is like Oliver Twist asking for more gruel.
I'm willing to try but I expect a beatin' as a result.

And regarding agents— what agents?
I adore Richard Hutchison, but he's gone from being my best source of jobs to a a job a year, if that.
All my other VO work is my own hustle and there's not enough incentive on earth that will cause me to throw away 30-40% of the money the clients are willing to pay me just so I can' "make it union".
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todd ellis · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 7:45 am Post subject:

i know we've had this discussion before - but that really, REALLY sucks.
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voicy1stef · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 7:58 am Post subject:

That is so freakin mean and unfair! Sick

Sending positive thoughts and vibes your way, that's all I can do!
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Deirdre · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:25 am Post subject:

It makes me wonder how many other rank-and-filers have been suddenly disenfranchised.
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flaspots · Contributore Level V Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 191

Being non-union, I have no pension, no insurance, and no benefits of any kind for myself or my family.

At my last gig as an "employee" five years ago, I had good insurance and a 401k.

So, I can feel what you're saying.

todd ellis · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 9:10 am Post subject:

the D.W. and i were just talking about "retirement" last night. she has the "pie-in-the-sky" golden parachute deal from the university, while she says i have, well, nothing. which is not exactly true. for every dollar i make i put a few cents away ... always and without fail, paying myself first. over the past 20-or-so years and with diligent management (by my "guy" not me) it has done reasonably well. i am not PLANNING on retiring at all, but you never know, right?
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Deirdre · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 9:22 am Post subject:

I intend to find out.
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 9:49 am Post subject:

I removed my post - as I am shocked at myself for being so - uninformed. I will brush up on all of this now that Deebs brought it up.

OK - edited again - I'm glad I wasn't mistaken about the being vested part of the equation...
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Deirdre · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:19 am Post subject:

The person who handles this at the Boston AFTRA office is so overwhelmed with calls, that her voicemail says it will be several days before you can expect a reply.

I have a call into my US rep, Chellie Pingree to see if this kind of stuff is legal.
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Deirdre · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:22 am Post subject:

Wow, my bad— the earnings required went up 100 per cent!

Gregory Best · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 12:28 pm Post subject:

That sucks. They wonder why they are loosing members and not getting many new ones? WAKE UP unions.
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Frank F · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 12:33 pm Post subject:

Goodbye Unions...

F2
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