Alliance/Equity (MEAA) E-Mag 19 Sept 2006

Welcome to your weekly e-bulletin from the Alliance. This week:

- ABC Protected Industrial Action - All NZ Equity On Tour
- Agreement Reached At Eurobeat - Opera Australia Discussions
- Winners In The West - Media Diversity Campaign - Child Labour Laws
- Equity Graduate Days - Make Your Own Fun A Hit
- Opera Australia 50th Birthday Party - Play School party - Monkey Baa Wins
- Certificate IV in OHS - Bank On It

ABC Protected Industrial Action - There will be an informational picket line at ABC locations around Australia when Alliance members go on strike for 24 hours from midnight Wednesday in support of a new enterprise agreement. The strike is protected industrial action and comes after a ballot overseen by the Australian Electoral Commission where 91 per cent of members voted in favour of the action.

All NZ Equity On Tour - Equity congratulates the cast of Frangipani Perfume who have just left to tour Canada. They are the first all New Zealand, all Equity cast to tour since Equity was re-launched in New Zealand. We wish them all the best and hope others follow their lead.

Agreement reached at Eurobeat - Equity has negotiated an agreement with Glynn Nicholas Productions for a one-off fee and royalties for those performers in the production who participated in the recording of the CD Eurobeat - Almost Eurovision.

Opera Australia discussions - A meeting has been scheduled for Opera agents and principals at 1.30pm, September 27 to discuss the Opera Australia proposal for all recordings and broadcasts. Opera principals are urged to join the discussion, contact claire.montgomery@alliance.org.au.

Winners In The West - Congratulations to the Perth Theatre Trust/Equity Guild Award 2006 winners announced last week. Best Actor (Male) Thomas Papathanassiou; Best Actor (Female) Katie Keady; Best Supporting Actor (Male) Renato Fabretti; Best Supporting Actor (Female) Alison van Reeken; Best Production The Arrival (Spare Parts Puppet Theatre); Geoff Gibbs Best Newcomer Award Lucy Cooke; Best Director Emily McLean; Best Designer in any Medium Alan Surgener; Best New Play The Carnivores by Ian Wilding; Guild Award Winner - Peter Woodward

Media Diversity Campaign - Media groups, politicians, journalists and the community are opposed to the Government's proposed media laws. So why change them? See the latest reports at the Alliance media diversity campaign website: www.xmedia.org.au

Child Labour Laws - The New South Wales Government will introduce stand-alone child labour legislation to address concerns about the possible exploitation of young workers. The legislation will protect young workers' pre-Work Choices employment terms and conditions and retain the status quo and requires an employer of an employee under 18 years of age to provide employment terms and conditions at least equivalent to those applying under relevant New South Wales awards and legislation.

Equity Graduate Days - Experienced performers, agents and financial advisers will impart their knowledge. Free event with lunch and afternoon tea provided, followed by industry drinks. Queensland - September 29, NSW - October 20, Victoria - November 13. Details: alison.aprhys@alliance.org.au 1300 65 65 13.

Make Your Own Fun A Hit - Congratulations to all involved in Equity's inaugural Make Your Own Fun - by all accounts an absolute blast of an evening at Melbourne's La Mama Theatre on 18 September 2006. Thanks to all who spoke on the evening and special thanks to host Jeremy Kewley and Film Victoria for supporting the initiative.  

Opera Australia 50th Birthday Party - Equity is hosting an after party for Opera Australia's performers, creative contributors, crew and administrators on 11 October 2006 to mark the 50th anniversary of the company. For more information e-mail suzanne.culph@alliance.org.au.

Play School Party - A grown up celebration for all the cast and crew who have worked on Play School over the past 40 years will be held at the Museum of Sydney on October 16 2006. For more information contact Suzanne.culph@alliance.org.au.

Monkey Baa Wins - Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People won the special panel award for audience development for its production of our production of Jackie French's Hitler's Daughter at the Australian Performing Arts Centres Association Drover's Awards.

Certificate IV in OHS - This course for the film and entertainment industry will run at the Alliance October 23-27 and November 13-17 (attendance both weeks is required). Cost is $1200 and includes gaining NSW WorkCover-accreditation. Contact: julie.deakins@alliance.org.au or call 02 9333 0916.
http://ohs.alliance.org.au/images/stories/certiv_ohs_0806.pdf

Bank On It - Rising rates got you ranting?  Relax, as a MEAA member you have access to a discounted home loan through Members Equity Bank. To find out more, visit www.membersequity.com.au/hloan