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A publication of the Philadelphia Local of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

July 2008

Local Welcomes New Executive Director

Stephen Leshinski

Metro/Shadow Traffic Is AFTRA!Philly traffic reporters leave the non-union two lane behind to jump on the AFTRA expressway.

Metro/Shadow employees at an informational meeting with AF-TRA Board members. (L.-R.) Rich Gunning, Local Pres. Cath-erine Brown, Sam Clover, Wendy McClure and AFTRA Board member Chuck Varesko.

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Stephen Leshinski seems perfect-ly designed for taking the long view of life’s objectives. Stand-

ing 6’10” tall, Steve has developed a clear focus on the goal and the strategy needed to rack-up a win for the home team. And, early on, he learned that, in the game of bargaining with manage-ment, the competitiveness and team

action endemic to basketball play prominently in workplace and community.

The lanky Leshinski kid jumped into serious scholastic sports competition as part of a prep team in Luxembourg, the American form of roundball having gained more global participation in the linkage of international upstaging and promotional possibilities. And Steve obviously sensed the winds of change at work in his life.

In �987 he enrolled at Bucknell University in Lewisburg Pa. where, along with his basketball regimen, Steve took on two ma-

On June �8 forty two producers and announcers at Metro-Shadow broadcasting, also known as “Shadow Traffic” a division of Westwood One, voted overwhelmingly for a

voice at work by forming a union with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

“We’re very excited we can now have a voice in an industry that is changing every day,” says Rod Carson, a Metro-Shadow employee who voted to join with AFTRA. “Obviously economics are important but the real issue as professionals is having a say in the product that is put on the air. Standing together as AFTRA members will make a big difference in our jobs.”

“The people who entertain and inform America are happy to welcome the broadcasters at Shadow Traffic as part of the growing AFTRA family,” said AFTRA National President Roberta Rear-don. “We’re moving forward together to provide the public with the information and entertainment they need—and also achieve fair wages, good benefits, and safe working conditions.”

“Having a voice through AFTRA is going to really change, in a positive way, the way Metro-Shadow does business. AFTRA members are looking forward to working with management on a contract similar to those in the other top markets where AFTRA members also have a voice at work, including New York, Boston, and Washington” said Dan Hunt, AFTRA Philadelphia Local Vice President.

Metro-Shadow has provided broadcast traffic reports in the Phil-adelphia area and beyond for more than 20 years. The announcers can be heard on KYW, WMMR, WXTU, WIOQ, and other area stations.

Continued on page �

Why We Want AFTRA

The incentives to unionize have been building at Metro Traf-fic for some time. There are a number of concerns that most of the staff have been expressing in on-going discussions

that led several senior members to decide it was an appropriate time to seek AFTRA representation. A previous attempt to orga-

Continued on page �

The Metro employee’s perspective.

By Nat Wright

By Frank Dealy

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National Meetings Report

The Broadcast Steering Committee met back in August (‘08) and the key issue of discussion was organizing. National’s Director of Organizing, Phil Denniston said there’s a growing area of unorganized work. The question facing AFTRA is whether

to concentrate on organizing the scale, that is, a large group of people across numerous employers. In 2004, five organizing target areas were listed and all are growth areas: au-

dio books, interactive, spanish language, cable and satellite. He stressed the cost of organizing saying ten percent of AFTRA’s nearly �7 million dollar annual budget would be needed to orga-nize a one thousand person field. He also stressed the need for real power over employers. We must determine what’s important to our employers and then interfere with that. Co-chair Joe Krebs of Washington-Baltimore will appoint a sub-committee to in-vestigate possible broadcast or-ganizing targets.

Regarding the pension plan, despite taking a stock market hit, the plan is more than 90% funded. Trustee Shelby Scott said more than eight million dollars per month is paid to AFTRA retirees.

Thanks to its current stability, any health plan changes have been deferred for at least a year, maybe longer. There’s a 13 month reserve in the plan. Also, the trustees have voted down that four tier proposal.

Scott also said senior health care costs continue to rise. Union trustees have vowed to continue senior coverage even though management trustees apparently would like to jet-tison it. She did say there may have to be changes made in the future.

National Board MeetingThe AFTRA National Board meeting was held June 6-7 in Los Angeles when the

tentative Exhibit “A” contract was explained. Facing a move by the Screen Actors Guild to get all dual card members to vote against this pact, it’s imperative that all of us work for passage of this agreement. It is an excellent contract negotiated by a com-mittee of more than thirty people, all of whom are dual card holders. AFTRA leader-ship already has responded to SAG leaders regarding our sister union’s implied actions.

So far this year, AFTRA has successfully negotiated four major contracts: Net-work News Correspondents, Sound Recordings, Net Code and Exhibit “A”. Still to come this fall is the Commercials Code. There remains much to be done in ar-eas such as audio books, cable TV, Spanish language and broadcast organizing.

The importance of working under an AFTRA contract was in evidence when CBS cut dozens of jobs affecting thirteen shops. While layoffs are never good, AFTRA made sure some two million dollars in severance was paid to those af-fected thus helping them financially while searching for other employment.

The next National Board meeting is in the 4th quarter of the year.• • •

By Bill Shusta

(L.-R.) Former Philadelphia AFTRA E.D. John Kailin, Phila. President Catherine Brown and Board Member and Bill Shusta at the Broadcast Steering Committee meeting.

Retired KYW-AM staffer and Local Board member Bill Shusta is on the National Broadcast Steering Committee, and is a National Board mem-ber. He reports on the BSC meeting and the June �-7 National Board.

SESSIONSof the Philadelphia

American Federation of Television & Radio Artists215.732.0507

philadelphia@aftra.comwww.aftraphiladelphia.com

Cast & CrewShelley Figures—Editor

Contributing EditorsNat Wright, Stephen Leshinski

Layout—Chuck Varesko

Executive StaffStephen LeshinskiExecutive Director

Shelley FiguresAssociate Executive Director

StaffLynn Koenigsberg—Freelance Contracts/Signatory AdministratorMichele Dooley—Benefits &Membership Administrator

AFTRA LocalBoard of Directors

Catherine Brown—President Dan Hunt—1st Vice PresidentDick Sheeran—2nd Vice PresidentCyndy Drue —SecretaryDan Hunt—TreasurerRob Charry, Ed Fischer, Paul Kurtz, Helen McNutt, Tom McNutt, Susan Moses, Dick Sheeran, Bill Shusta, Christy Springfield, Chuck Varesko

National Board Members:Susan Moses, Bill Shusta

For the latest info dial:

215-C-A-S-T-I-N-Gor surf to

www.aftra.comVisit the Philadelphia

AFTRA Online Talent Guide @

www.aftraphiladelphia.com

AFTRA PHILADELPHIA230 South Broad St., Suite 500Philadelphia, PA 19102-4121215.732.0507

Official Publication

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Metro is AFTRA...From page 1

Photos by Chuck Varesko.

Metro/Shadow Victory Celebration: (L-R) Rod Carson, Catherine Brown, (front) Rich Gunning, (rear) Sam Clover, Cyndy Drue, Dan Hunt & Shelley Figures.

(L-R) Rod Carson, Dan Hunt and Sam Clover holding the official results of the Metro/Shadow vote.

nize the office about ten years prior had not been successful, but AFTRA membership now was the obvious avenue to improve working conditions.

Until this past January, there had not been a general salary in-crease offered for a number of years. It was noted, however, in other markets where Metro was represented by AFTRA, regular increases have taken place.

The Philadelphia Mero office lacks an established procedure for covering broadcast assignments when someone reports off or a last minute call-off occurs. This often results in someone already at work being given a much heavier load of broadcast assignments or a lengthy extension of their shift.

The quality of broadcast product has been of growing concern for some time. Several stations have abandoned Metro for other providers offering similar services, but a better product. It is hoped that, with AFTRA, the broadcasters and producers will have an avenue to affect improvements in broadcast product.

One area of definite concern has been the deterioration of com-pany equipment. Traffic cams have not been repaired or, when needed, replaced. The loss of convenient effective access to the PennDOT system has not been promptly addressed. The current computer program for traffic reporting is unwieldy and very user-unfriendly.

The scheduling of producers, or lack thereof, has also been a ma-jor complaint. Having only one producer scheduled during some peak traffic times, especially during summer weekends, has had a negative effect on product quality. The amount of information coming in is often more than one producer can process. Not having any producer in to support the overnight broadcasters also impacts product quality as well as raising concerns about employee safety. It is felt that there should always be at least two people in the of-fice at all times.

The staff would also like to see better producer training for new hires. A formal training program with a comprehensive list of learning objectives should be developed to replace the current practice of learning-by-watching as others work. Initial training should occur during off-peak hours when more attention can be given to instructing.

It is hoped that joining AFTRA will give Metro employees the opportunity to have a positive effect on the quality of their broad-cast product as well as improving their workplace environment.

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Tony Nixon—”We need a Union to prevent unfair treatment. I’m often not able to take any lunch break or even use the rest room for hours on end because there’s no one there to cover. We need a voice to ensure that we have the best possible equipment to do our job effectively for the public listeners…As AFTRA members, management will have to sit down and negotiate with us as equals on these issues.”

Sam Clover—”Regular cut backs and lack of effective maintenance of crucial resources for basic traffic information gathering have seriously strained and diminished our ability to accurately provide our stations the product they’ve come to demand…We simply want to be proud again of our product and work place by being allowed some of the most basic tools and ideas necessary to do our jobs.”

Rod Carson—”When we founded Shadow Traffic back in 1976, our main goals were always to: 1, Produce the best possible product. 2, Treat our people with the respect and professionalism they deserve I feel that these goals have fallen by the wayside at Metro Traffic and the only way to get them back is have a “Voice”. AFTRA CAN PROVIDE THAT FOR US!…And, let’s not forget…NO RAISES IN 6 YEARS!”

Tom Collins—”The year 2006 did it for me. That’s the year our payroll was moved to a new company and the employees had to pay for it. The pay schedule went from twice a month to every other week so we should have been paid 26 times that year. Instead the first check was called a loan and every pay period after, equal install-ments were taken out to pay back this loan. In essence I made less each check since I had to pay them back and at the end of the year was paid only 25 times instead of 26. I consider that a pay cut. Why would a multi-million dollar company make the employees pay for a payroll.”

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2008 Meeting—Honors & Honored Guests

April 28, 2008, @ the Adrienne Theater, Phil-adelphia, Pa.

The theme of the ‘07 Philly AFTRA gath-ering focused outward in an expression of appreciation to those entities who

hire our member performers ...highlighted by presentations of appropriate certificates to man-agers, department heads, producers and creative and casting people who make meaningful use of our Local’s depth of talent. Our 2008 mem-bership conclave, at the Adrienne’s Black Box Theater in Center City, acknowledged the flip side of the golden coin: honoring the dedicated efforts of shop stewards who keep watch on be-half of rank and filers at signatory stations. The evening’s accolades also included the induction of 2008’s Philadelphia AFTRA Hall of Fame honoree. Wall-to-wall warmth accompanied the appearance of National AFTRA President Roberta Reardon on stage, and we got a quick “hello” from Stephen Leshinski, who received our Local’s Ex-ecutive Directorial reins from the retiring John Kailin on June 16th.

Local VP and Board member Dan Hunt launched the evening’s all-star agenda by bringing to the podium Local President Catherine Brown who, after thanking staffers for setting the stage (and, of course, the buffet table), served up the schedule of events ...beginning with the showing of a snippet of a video tracing the shop steward tradition and featuring some grainy images of historic broadcasters who nurtured the concept. The National AFTRA, we’re told, has the full production.

The Dan Hunt was joined by a trio of Local board members (Susan Moses plus Tom & Helen McNutt who sang Susan’s whimsical lyrics of a downbeat for the tributes paid to a parade of shop stewards. Successively recognized for their steward-ship: Pierre Robert (WMMR-FM), Rob Charry (WIP-AM), Lisa Page (WIOQ-FM), Neil Rattigan (KYW-TV), Paul Kurtz and Cheryl Elias (KYW-AM) and Catherine Brown (WCAU-TV). Catherine disclosed she has written a manual covering du-ties and procedures for shop stewards. Rob Charry was accord-ed a round of applause recognizing his service as a Local Board

(L.-R.) Local VP Dan Hunt, Larry Kane, Jay Lloyd, Catherine Brown, John Kailin and KYW-AM News Director Steve Butler.

member. And Ed Kasuba, past President of the Local and long-time KYW News radio shop steward, was saluted in absentia.

Larry Kane, newsman, established author and occupant of a niche in Philly Hall of Fame, assumed the podium to usher KYW Radio’s retired Suburban Bureau Chief Jay Lloyd into this se-lect gallery. Larry, in his recap of career, inserted sound bytes of Jay’s on-scene immersion in remarkable regional reporting (ranging from courthouse steps to creek). Jay’s reminiscent re-sponse brought forth applause from members, Local officers and guests who included KYW Radio News Director Steve But-ler. As usual, the ubiquitous camera of Local Recording Secre-tary Cyndy Drue captured the honored individuals and guests.

After concisely summarizing her ascendence to AFTRA’s Na-tional Presidency, Dan Hunt brought to the stage Roberta Rear-don, successor to the top spot in April ‘07 when John Connolly exited to become chairman of Actors’ Equity. Melding gracious-ness with expertise, Roberta has earned diverse experience in areas of acting, commercials, and industrial narrations. Her leadership experience in the New York AFTRA Local, plus her training at Cornell University’s Union Institute, have Continued on page �

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Catherine Brown and WXTU Steward Rob Charry.

Catherine Brown and WIOQ Steward Lisa Page.

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given Roberta a full-dimensional knack of negotiation. She cited AFTRA’s need to survive rapid technical developments via new al-liances within the AFL/CIO, particularly in areas of combined bar-gaining and overlapping pacts and codes. Regarding dysfunctional dealings with SAG, Roberta pledged to work toward a restoration of integrity and trust despite apparent efforts by certain SAG lead-ers to stiff-arm AFTRA. In the course of fielding floor questions, she strongly urged an intensified members’ organization push.

In other agenda Chuck Varesko took occasion to remind as-sembled members to make use of the Philly AFTRA Online Talent Guide. (www.aftraphiladelphia.com) The Local office, 215-732-0507, has forms and full details on how to sign up.

Dan Hunt then implored us to show greater interest and partici-pation in Local affairs, especially in matters requiring increased rank and file volunteering. And freelancer Barry Brait alerted the gathering to forthcoming presentations by the Philadelphia Film Commission regarding feature flick production advantages on our turf and Philadelphia SAG’s program on film production.

Finally, as champagne corks popped with a force sufficient to launch a fleet, Local President Catherine Brown and resident actor/trooper Philadelphia SAG President Tom McCarthy led our company of players in a bubbly toast to the retiring John Kailin...who expressed much gratifica-tion over the membership’s sup-port of his solidarity effort in leading the Local through the years. John reviewed the liter-ally towering (6’10”) negotiat-ing talents of successor Stephen Leshinski, such talents certain to be crucially vital to Philly AF-TRA’s format for future success.

• • •Larry Kane, Catherine Brown, Paul Kurtz, Roberta Reardon, Jay Lloyd, John Kailin, Lisa Page & Neil Rattigan.

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President Roberta Reardonaddressed the meeting and answered questions.

Dan Hunt worked with the Shop Steward Singers.

(L.-R.) Dan Hunt, Catherine Brown and John Kailin lift their glasses in a toast to John as Local SAG President Tom McCarthy prepares to exit, stage left.

Hall of Fame recipient Jay Lloyd.

KYW-AM Steward Cheryl Elias.

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Get Your Free Listing In The Talent Guide

Since our last newsletter the AFTRA Philadel-phia Online Talent Guide has added more pag-es of local union talent. Every Local member

added to the Online Talent Guide makes it that much stronger as a tool for producers and casting directors. Don’t be left out!

u How do I sign up?Point your web browser to:

http://www.aftraphiladelphia.comand follow the instructions on the first page. u What if I’m not online?If you still believe these computer things aren’t go-

ing to catch on then you can call the AFTRA office at 215-732-0507 and ask for a printed copy of the sign up form. Fill it out and return it to the office with your headshot and resume. That’s all there is to it. Your page will be on the Web working for you and we do the tech stuff. You don’t even have to own a computer.

u How about voice and video demos?If they’re under 500K you can upload them

through our website. If they’re larger or in a primitive tape format you can mail them to the AFTRA office. We convert them and put them on the site. You can also upload your headshot and resume through the site: http://www.aftraphiladel-phia.com/upload.html.

Let the world see the AFTRA talent that’s available in the Delaware Valley. Sign up for the AFTRA Phila-delphia Online Talent Guide today. Did we mention it’s free?

http://www.aftraphiladelphia.com

jors...religion and political science...finishing with the class of ‘91, certainly cognizant of the communications skills essential to these callings.Steve soon entered the labor field to represent medical person-

nel (principally nurses) at hospitals in Northern & Central New Jersey. One particular negotiation obviously turned out success-fully for Steve: meeting and marrying wife Lisa, an organizer who has been active on the national board of the union, HPAE. At home. Lisa and Steve have co-produced daughter Madelyn, soon to be a big girl of a year-and-a-half and already skilled in her own style of negotiation.Steve tells us he’s also been involved in a specialized form of

communication, coupled with mentorship, on behalf of ACORN

(Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now). Much of this work involved extensive travel & communicative outreach.The Leshinski family roots sprang from the beloved Borough of

Brooklyn to parts of Peekskill, with retired parents now lodged on Long Island. Steve, Lisa and Madelyn are currently at home in Haddon Township, NJ. And, awaiting the opening buzzer, Stephen Leshinski stands poised & tall to take the tip-off which launches his tenure as Executive Director of the Philadelphia AFTRA Local.

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New Executive...From page 1

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Notes From The Director

Let me start by saying thank you to Catherine Brown and the entire Philadelphia Board for giving me the opportunity to serve as the new Executive Director for AFTRA Philadelphia. I was in Los Angeles

recently for the National Board meeting and was told by everyone I met what a dynamic and “unique” group we had here in Philadelphia; as if I didn’t already know!

I have spent the past ��+ years involved in community and union organiz-ing and negotiating, first with the national community group ACORN (As-sociation of Community Organizations for Reform Now) and most recently with HPAE, the Health Professionals and Allied Employees, the largest healthcare union in New Jersey.

What was so attractive about the AFTRA position was the commitment to organizing and growth that I kept hearing as I met with members of the Board and others to discuss AFTRA in Philadelphia.

So many unions fall into the trap of “servicing” to the point where that’s all that ever happens, and the next thing you know you’ve lost membership and market share and you’re not even how it happened. Servicing the existing contracts and membership base is crucial, of course, but without growth through organizing your ability to make real gains for your members diminishes.

AFTRA Philadelphia has so much to offer; whether it is the protection of a collective bargaining agreement where members work, or the enforcement mechanisms of the various freelance agreements we have throughout the region, or just the power to have a real voice on the job to deal with the constant changes in the industry, the more people know about AFTRA the more they will want to become part of what we’re building here.

Don’t take my word for it; ask a member of AFTRA!

WMMR Producers Now AFTRA Join The Parade!

June 25, 2008: Producers at WMMR are now a part of that AF-TRA shop. For years now several of the jocks at ‘MMR have had producers assisting them on the air, doing everything from han-dling requests and running the control board, to answering emails and coordinating contests. With the assistance of the producers the on air talent is able to concentrate on the big picture—entertaining their audience.

Up until June ��th the producers at WMMR unlike the on air artists, were not covered by a union contract and were not offered any benefits of protections under the AFTRA contract covering the on air talent, DJs, news people, etc.. Prior to the agreement reached on June ��th producers were subject to the whims of management. Now the WMMR producers are a recognized part of the shop and have benefits negotiated by AFTRA.

AFTRA Philadelphia Executive Director Stephen Leshinski said, “The station recognized everything the producers were do-ing and agreed that they should be covered with the same contract language as the staff artists. These folks will now be receiving ben-efits, vacation time, and the other protections afforded by a union contract.”

Other highlights included not giving up the fifth full-time on-air slot, increases to H&R, and dramatic increases to the part-time staff,including for some staff raises of 8% or more.

PHILADELPHIA Coming this Labor Day is your chance to join your Local as we march in the Tri-State Labor Day Parade. Last year members of the Philadelphia Local marched in the parade and staffed the AFTRA booth at the AFL-CIO Family Fest at Penn’s Landing following the parade.

Every year all the labor organizations in the Delaware Valley come together to celebrate and support union workers and their families. The Tri-State Labor Day Parade is the largest Labor Day parade in the country.

Last year the AFTRA members who marched in the parade so impressed the Tri-State Labor Day Committee with their march-ing attire—white t-shirts with AFTRA on the front and back in red—that out of all the other organizations participating they were awarded the Best Dressed prize.

The march starts at the Sheet Metal Worker’s Union Hall at 10 a.m. and ends at Penn’s Landing for a day of food, games, rides and entertainment until 4 p.m. on Labor Day, September 1st. For information on what you need to do to sign up for the parade call the AFTRA office at 215-732-0507 or email Lynn Koenigsberg: lkoenigs@aftra.com and ask for information on how you can par-ticipate in the parade and the festival.

See you on September 1, 2008. Don’t forget your sunblock.

By Stephen Leshinski

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SESSIONS is also online atwww.aftraphiladelpia.com/sessionsRead Nat Wright’s History of The Philadelphia Local at www.aftraphiladelphia.com/convention/history.html

In This Issue

Metro/Shadow Traffic Is AFTRA! ........................1

Local Welcomes New Executive Director ...........1

Why We Want AFTRA ........................................1

National Meetings Report ...................................2

2008 Meeting—Honors & Honored Guests ........4

Join The Free Online Talent Guide .....................6

Notes From The Director ....................................7

WMMR Producers Now AFTRA ..........................7

Join The Labor Day Parade! ...............................7