Joining The Union As A Voiceover Talent #WoVoChat 6-3-15

Joining The UnionTwitter Chat

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015 12pmPT/2pmCT/3pmET

#[email protected]

#WoVoChat www.worldvo.org

Featuring

Connie Terwilliger & Johnny George


Q1: When in a person’s VO career should they consider the value of joining the union? #WoVoChat

A1: If voice work is the sole source of income, and you need insurance and pension benefits. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53

A1: If you are being requested to voice UNION status spots. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53

A1: Your desire to turn your non-union jobs into union jobs by contacting your agent…(cont.) #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53


A1: …(cont) and asking them to serve on your behalf. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53

A1: If it makes financial sense for you to give up your non-union clients. #WoVoChat@aganguzza

A1: Maybe when the number of union gigs out number non-union and cover all life expenses. #WoVoChat@HJCDunnVOX

A1: When you can easily afford the dues. #WoVoChat@MoeRockVP



Q2: What are some compelling reasons FOR joining the union? #WoVoChat

A2: Do not have to negotiate each job. Rates are set. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent

A2: You are guaranteed payment on your job. Clients have signed a union contract. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent

A2: You get retirement benefits once vested, based on all earnings under contract. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent


A2: Health plan with minimum $ earned within 4 quarters. About $10,000 for an individual right now under AFTRA; $15,000 SAG. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent

A2: You are no longer “on your own”. The benefit of collective bargaining means you have clout over buyers/producers. #WoVoChat@joecip

A2: Better paying gigs. Health and retirement benefits. #WoVoChat@HJCDunnVOX

A2: Not only are you guaranteed payment, you’re paid in 15-30 days rather than net 60-120 days. #WoVoChat@PaulBoucher



Q3: What are some compelling reasons for NOT joining the union? #WoVoChat

A3: Not enough union-based work available to you in your market or with your agents. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53

A3: The initiation fee has become unaffordable. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53

A3: You may not qualify for an Initiation Fee Loan. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53


A3: You are scrutinized very carefully and cannot accept non-union work without voiding your status. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53

A3: For fear of losing all your non-union clients. #WoVoChat@MoeRockVP

A3: Access to fewer gigs. I believe there to be more non-union than union. Purely anecdotal. #WoVoChat@HJCDunnVOX

A3: Your primary area of work (eLearning, radio imaging) doesn’t exist in the same reality as the terms in the agreements. #WoVoChat@PaulBoucher



Q4: What is Fi-Core, or Financial Core And why does SAG-AFTRA dislike it so much? #WoVoChat

A4: FiCore is NLRB ruling originally designed for people to opt out of being in the union due to objections to political spending. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent

A4: You become a non-member with the right to work under union contracts, but you are not fined for working non-unions. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalentA4: You can’t vote, you don’t get the magazine, you don’t get the screeners, can’t log onto the website to pay your fee online. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent


A4: Fees are nearly the same, but more FiCore means more jobs going non-union, which reduces union leverage for keeping rates up. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent


Q5: How long can I do union work before I have to join the union?#WoVoChat

A5: 30 days. Yes, it’s called being Taft-Hartley’d (grandfathered) in. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53

A5: After 30 days, it is not acceptable to continue to do union work without joining. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53

A5: And in order to join, you must pay an initiation fee. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53


A5: Initiation fee is now over $3,100. It was $750 when I joined in 2000. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53


Q6: Can anyone convert non-union work to union by using a paymaster? #WoVoChat

A6: Any non-residual job that pays enough can be converted to union using a paymaster. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent

A6: Talk to people at Falcon Paymasters to get an idea of what is involved and the minimum fees you need to charge. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalentA6: Remember, union work is W2 work unless you are a LLC or other corps. Sole props will see W2’s, not 1099’s. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent


A6: Commercials and TV programs cannot be converted because of the need for someone to be responsible for the reuse fees. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent


Q7: What does it cost to be a FiCore member? #WoVoChat

A7: A % of whatever you made + a base payment of about $201.96/yr. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53

A7: You are then allowed to do union and non-union work. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53

A7: SAG-AFTRA do not encourage FiCore status. It pulls operating monies out of their pockets. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53


A7: You also have not voting rights, but can qualify for P&I if you pay 1.57% into it via a PayMaster. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53


Q8: Do agents like FiCore? #WoVoChat

A8: Agents being cut out of work as more producers go direct to talent. They want to have more opportunities for jobs. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent

A8: I have been told that agents are dropping their union franchises. Not sure about the majors, but yes in the smaller markets. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalentA8: In speaking with my personal agents, they like being able to send talent out to more auditions/jobs – union or non-union. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent


A8: But the industry is still in flux, with some non-union rates dropping lower. Agents have to charge more fees to make it up. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent


Q9: I live in a Right-To-Work state. Does that preclude joining the union? #WoVoChat

A9: Legally yes, however, the union may push jobs away from you if you don’t join. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53

A9: The Right-To-Work angle is not a popular one with union actors. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53

A9: Check to see if your state is a Right-To-Work state first. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53


A9: It is a personal decision to join or not. But fees may still be required to do union work. #WoVoChat@JohnnyG53


Q10: Are we missing any union basic rulse? #WoVoChat

A10: If you are full union, you follow Rule 1 – and do not work any non-union jobs. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent

A10: Annual base dues around $200, plus 1.575% of all other $ under SAG or AFTRA contracts up to $500,000. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent

A10: Pension and Health plans still separate. Be careful to watch what contract you sign so that you don’t miss the minimum. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent


A10: Initiation fee is currently around $3100 (initiation fees may be lower in some states). Can pay monthly installments. #WoVoChat@ConnieVOTalent


Join Us for the next #WoVoChat on Wednesday,

June 24th 12pmPT/2pmCT/3pmET!

Topic: Mobile VO Set Ups

Check out the entire 6-3-15 #WoVoChat at our Storify:

bit.ly/WoVoChat_12

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Joining The Union As A Voiceover Talent #WoVoChat 6-3-15

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Transcript of Joining The Union As A Voiceover Talent #WoVoChat 6-3-15