A Message From Your Los Angeles Local President

On Feb. 1, we celebrated the Lunar New Year of the water tiger and the start of Black History Month!
 
The Lunar New Year is an auspicious time to set goals and plant new seeds, for the tiger is the initiator and has a fierce capability to inspire independent thinking. The overall theme of the year is to use your courage over your emotions to achieve your heart’s desire.

Black History Month celebrates the achievements of African Americans and their contribution to our society and American history. With threats on historically Black colleges and universities across the country in recent weeks, the L.A. Local stands in solidarity with our fellow African American members against these horrifying racist attacks. Our hope is that our nation can come together in our fight for equality, respect and human decency.

A few updates:

Since my last report, the L.A. Local committees are in action and abuzz with excitement. We have had 19 local committees meet — some more than once — for a total of 32 meetings. After an almost two-year hiatus on committee work, we are hoping the resource conservation, in effect since the start of COVID, will be relaxed to reengage more personally with you, our membership.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, we have had an extension of the Return to Work Agreement.

Even though we have had many TV shows come back to California due to tax credits, we are still losing work. Gov. Newsom and the state are now offering more tax credits than ever before.

Last, but most importantly, our Commercials Contracts negotiations:
Here in Los Angeles, we held 15 wages and working conditions (W&Ws) meetings over Zoom from Nov. 1–Dec. 10. All active L.A. Local members in good standing were invited to attend these W&W meetings, which provided members an opportunity to share their thoughts and priorities for the upcoming negotiations. This information is used by our member negotiators to ensure the contracts reflect members' priorities.

Negotiations began on Feb. 15 in New York and are scheduled to conclude on March 31. The end date is scheduled to coincide with the Commercials Contracts’ end date of March 31.

I want to personally thank the Los Angeles W&W chairs, L.A. Local Vice President David Joliffe and National Commercial Performers Committee Chair Katie Von Till for their time, commitment and service to this necessary process. 

My heartfelt prayers for successful outcomes for our national commercial negotiators, our L.A. Local committees, and for all your “set” intentions in the coming year.

Remember, courage coupled with a neutral mind is a key to achieving your goals.

All good things,

Jodi Long,
Los Angeles Local President