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ATPAM: News: HL0203A

NEWS

ATPAM AND BAM INK FOUR YEAR DEAL

ATPAM and the Brooklyn Academy of Music recently renewed the stand-alone collective bargaining agreement that dates back to the early 1980’s. The terms of the five year agreement are retroactive to August 1, 2000 and extend until July 31, 2004. The negotiation leading up to the renewal was cordial but protracted. Initially ATPAM was represented by Field Rep Gary Halcott, who eventually ankled the negotiations due to poor health. He was succeeded by Field Rep Theresa Von Klug who left during the negotiations to take the position of Production Manager for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. The negotiations were brought to a successful conclusion in March of 2002 by Field Rep Tom Walsh.

The negotiations centered primarily on two points. BAM wanted to substantially eliminate the requirement that House Managers be paid in connection with the recording of events in the venue. ATPAM agreed to discuss a different arrangement but insisted that there be a one-time buy out of the lost recording premiums in the form of an additional overall percentage wage increase. BAM agreed with the concept but the two sides were initially far apart on the percentages that would be appropriate. The sad events of September 11, 2001, and the resulting budget crisis for New York’s cultural institutions, added another difficult dimension to the talks. Eventually the two sides came together in the spirit of compromise. The new contract has wage increases that are within the overall industry pattern.

ATPAM’s main issue, in addition to wage increases was that the Communications Department had grown significantly since the original contract was negotiated and the number of venues and operating budget of the institution had grown in the interim as well. As a result, the Union felt that the number of represented Press Agents should be increased to reflect the reality of the staffing. It was a jurisdiction issue. BAM initially resisted any expansion of the bargaining unit, but the Union persisted and made a persuasive case for the need to have at least one Senior and one Associate Press Agent on a 52-week per year basis covered under the contract. The resolution was that BAM agreed to add one Associate Press Agent to the bargaining unit at 75% of Senior scale.

Other issues were discussed and agreed upon once the two main issues had been successfully resolved. The new agreement contains many improvements for the Theatre Managers and Press Agents.

Employees may choose either BAM’s health plan or ATPAM’s portable plan.

Employees may choose either BAM’s pension plan or ATPAM’s portable plan.

Employees may choose either BAM’s 401k plan or ATPAM’s portable Annuity plan.

Employees may choose either BAM’s standard vacation leave plan or ATPAM’s vacation plan which is an amount equal to 8.5% of gross weekly compensation, paid out weekly.

Employees are now indemnified by BAM for actions taken in the course of their employment.

COLA provisions have been updated and extended for the life of the agreement.

The ATPAM emblem will appear in programs distributed to the Public, where appropriate.

BAM agrees to payroll check-off deduction for purposes of the IATSE Political Action Committee.

ATPAM Secretary-Treasurer, Gordon G. Forbes expressed satisfaction with the terms of the renewal. "It was a long haul, but well worth the wait," he said. "The contract is a fair one and it demonstrates what can be achieved when the Union and the Employer work together toward a common goal. I want to thank the Field Reps who negotiated this contract over the past two years for their persistence and also the members of the bargaining unit, who waited patiently while we worked through some complicated issues."