Entertainment for Kids Becomes Economic Cruelty for Adults

Entertainment for Kids Becomes Economic Cruelty for Adults

NEW YORK, July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 30, 2008, Local 802 AFM filed unfair labor charges under the National Labor Relations Act against Little Airplane Productions, Inc., alleging coercion and negotiating in bad faith.

While engaged in contract negotiations with the Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 AFM, Little Airplane Productions, Inc. illegally and unilaterally replaced, without notice, its musicians for its children's program The Wonder Pets!

Last summer, the musicians employed by Little Airplane Productions, Inc. requested in writing that their employer negotiate a union contract with Local 802 AFM.

After months of phone and email communication, face to face negotiations began in earnest. At Little Airplane's request, a negotiation session was held on May 14 at Local 802 headquarters on West 48th Street to clarify a number of economic proposals currently on the table. An attorney for Little Airplane indicated that the company wanted to keep the whole team in place and engage its musicians under a collective bargaining agreement with Local 802. Then without notice or discussion the company replaced all members of the American Federation of Musicians working on the show.

Faced with potential public protest, the employer promised to stop recording in order to return to the bargaining table and met with the union on July 10, 2008 at Local 802 headquarters to exchange economic proposals. The employer indicated that the parties' respective positions appeared to be apart by less than 1% of payroll for the season. According to Little Airplane, it is now a $10 million a year company.

As of July 23, Little Airplane says that it will employ the New York musicians only if there is no union agreement. Furthermore, the company claims that if the musicians and their union persist in seeking a union contract, one that both sides had been negotiating for a year, it will record the music in the Czech Republic, without the New York musicians, eliminating its "union problems."

Housed in a government subsidized building, Little Airplane Productions is paying musicians as independent contractors. Paying musicians as independent contractors instead of employees is a violation of state employment law.

The tactics employed by Little Airplane represent the lowest level of bad faith negotiating, worker intimidation and sharp business practices, damaging its integrity and that of the corporations that broadcast their programs.

It is tragic that a media company specializing in quality children's programming emphasizing character development openly embraces such hypocritical business dealings.

Further charges will be filed with the National Labor Relations Board.

Local 802 AFM urges Little Airplane Productions, Inc. to return to the negotiating table, rehire its former musicians and bargain in good faith.

Local 802 AFM will hold a press conference on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. at 207 Front Street to discuss this matter in greater detail.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Local 802 AFM

CONTACT: Briele Douglass of Sunshine Sachs & Associates,
+1-212-691-2800, douglass@sunshinesachs.com; or Paul Molloy of Local 802 AFM,
+1-212-245-4802, Ext. 176, pmolloy@local802afm.org

Web Site: http://local802afm.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment