+ Resurgence or Deterioration? The State of Cultural Unions in the 21 st Century Rachel Shane, Ph.D. University of Kentucky

+ Union Percent of Workforce 11.8% 32.5%

+ Employee Representation USACanadaBritainIrelandAustraliaNew Zealand Union Density, %29%28.8%35%22.7%21.1% Density trend in private sector, Fell from 10.4 to 7.9% Fell from 22.2% to 18.8% Fell from 21.6% to 17.2% Fell from 45.0% to 28.3% Fell from 26% to 17.4% Fell from 19.8% to 12.0% Source: Freeman, Richard B. Do Workers Still Want Unions? 2007Do Workers Still Want Unions?

+ Union Attitudes USACanadaBritainIrelandAustraliaNew Zealand Management attitudes to union voices Hostile Skeptical Mainly tolerant DependsMainly tolerant Union attitudes to non-union voice HostileTolerantSkepticalTolerant but wary TolerantSkeptical Political Climate Highly polarized Neutral Supportive HostileSupportive Trend in representation In-crisisStable UnstableStable Source: Freeman, Richard B. Do Workers Still Want Unions? 2007Do Workers Still Want Unions?

+ Approval of Labor Unions Source: Gallup Poll, Approval of Labor Unions Holds Near Its Low, at 52%, 2011Approval of Labor Unions Holds Near Its Low, at 52%

+ Approval of Labor Unions by Political Party Source: Gallup Poll, Approval of Labor Unions Holds Near Its Low, at 52%, 2011Approval of Labor Unions Holds Near Its Low, at 52%

+ But do workers want unions?

+ Percent of nonunion workers who would vote for union representation Source: Freeman, Richard B. Do Workers Still Want Unions? 2007Do Workers Still Want Unions?

+ Are the trends similar with cultural unions?

+

+ Council of Stock Theatres (COST) Developing Theatres Other TYA Cabaret Disney URTA SETA Dinner Theatre Casino Off Broadway Orlando Chicago New Orleans Hollywood San Francisco Bay Area

+ Equity Members Working, Source: Actors’ Equity Association, Annual Report

+ Percent of Equity Members Working, Source: Actors’ Equity Association, Annual Report

+ Median Equity Member Salary

+ Median Equity Member Salary, Adjusted for Inflation

+ Equity Work Weeks, Source: Actors’ Equity Association, Annual Reports

+ Equity Work Weeks by Type,

+ Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers Film Television Commercials New Media News and Broadcast Sound Recordings Music Videos Corporate/Educ ational

+ Path to Merger Equity claimed jurisdiction of film SAG formed by former Equity members AFRA formed Failed SAG- AFTRA Merger Vote SAG Strike 2000

+ Increased membership to 140, ,000 members were already members of both SAG and AFTRA AFTRA 68,000 total members 45,000 dual SAG members 23,000 broadcasters, recording artists, background, “other” Source: The Actors Network

+ More members can qualify for health and pension coverage End to jurisdictional disputes Response to consolidation of entertainment conglomerates Increased leverage in contract negotiations Provide a more powerful force against union erosion

+ Union Mergers Strategy for improving union bargaining power and conserving resources Unions benefit from the increased economy of scale AFL-CIO has actively promoted mergers involving unions representing workers in the same or related industries 1995 – 2007: 31 union mergers in the United States

+ Recording companies Motion pictures Television Films TV Variety Programs TV and Radio Commercials Non-broadcast industrial films Interactive Media

+ Growing discord Detroit Symphony Strike, Broadway Strike, March 2003 Chicago SO Strike, Sept 2012 Seattle SO Strike Authorization, Oct 2012

+

+ Seattle Symphony “The Seattle Symphony is one of the highest earned income- producing orchestras in the country and is forecasted to again have a balanced budget in the season. We are proud of the contribution our past concessions have made toward balancing the budget, and see no reason that continued pay cuts should be necessary.” YearNet Gain/Loss 2010($1,275,788) 2009($2,265,828) 2008($429,447) 2007$340, ($4,453,405) 2005($2,098,626) 2004$1,975, ($350,357) 2002($1,636,756) 2001($2,622,827) Musicians Financial Status David Sabee, Cellist

The Orchestra Forum “Elephant” Task Force League of American Orchestras Mid-Winter Managers’Meeting January 25, 2009

+ There Is an Elephant in the Room What Are WE Going to Do About the Lousy Economy?

+ Getting to the Point Cheap Trustees Greedy Musicians Unappreciative Communities Arrogant Music Directors Shitty Management The ETF has addressed the root causes of our malaise:

+ So what does all this mean about the cultural unions?

+ Cultural Union Attitudes USAEquitySAG-AFTRAAFM Management attitudes to union voices HostileTolerantTolerant but wary Hostile Union attitudes to non-union voice Hostile Trend in representation In-CrisisStable In-Crisis