Alliance (MEAA) E-Mag -Dec 2006

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

- Live Theatre Agreement - National Drama Survey - ABC Interim Offer
- Home and Away Cast Rejects Merchandising Proposal
- Alliance Members Day of Action - Very Happy Feet - Support For Canadian Performers
- Class Of 2006 - IF Awards - More Media Machinations - JUST Workshops

Live Theatre agreement - Negotiations continue with the AEIA for the new Live Theatre Agreement. Outstanding issues relate to travel and wages. The outlook for an imminent settlement is hopeful.

National Drama Survey - The Alliance has written to the Federal Government, the Treasurer, the Prime Minister and Arts Minister asking that in their response to the Federal Government's review of the audio-visual industry special attention is paid to the recommendations of the Alliance as to how greater private investment can be attracted to Audio Visual sector and therefore grow the industry.

ABC Interim Offer - The ABC has offered a 3% interim pay rise while current negotiations are going on. The proposal will be put to the Performers Committee on November 30.

Home and Away Cast Rejects Merchandising Proposal - Cast on Home and Away have rejected a merchandising proposal. 2007 marks the 20th anniversary of the show and an independent company had approached Network 7 with a proposal to devise and sell a DVD board game. The game would have included clips from the 20-year history of the show and seeking the consent of other performers would have proved almost impossible in any event.

Alliance Members Day Of Action - Perth Rally At Perth Oval. Meet at the Alliance Office, 123 Claisebrook Street, at 10.45am. Drinks will be served at the Alliance office after the protest and members should wear bright colours. For more information on regional venues or general information, call the Alliance Inquiry Desk on 1300 656 512.
See http://rightsatwork.com.au/campaigns/nov30rally for details of other venues

Very Happy Feet - Australian director George Miller and his troupe of fluffy tap-dancing penguins have topped the North American box office, knocking off James Bond and sending Borat back to Kazakhstan. Miller's animated musical comedy, Happy Feet, earned an impressive $US42.3 million ($55.13 million) at US and Canadian cinemas at the weekend to claim the number one spot. The film will open in Australia on 26 December. http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,20787937-7485,00.html

Support for Canadian Performers - National Performers Committee moved to support the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) who are locked in difficult negotiations with film and television producers in Canada. NPC directed that in the event of a strike being declared by ACTRA against film and television producers in Canada, the Alliance would take all action legally possible to support striking ACTRA workers.

Class of 2006 - Congratulations to the 210 new Equity members who joined as part of Equity's graduates program! Thanks too to all the performers who contributed to the grads days in QLD, VIC and NSW as speakers, organizers and wrap drinkers.

IF Awards - Congratulations to all the winners in this year's IF Awards. For the full list, see http://www.afc.gov.au/newsandevents/afcnews/fest_awards/if_2006_winners/newspage_344.aspx

More Media Machinations - Media mogul Kerry Stokes has sold his media interests for close to $3.2 billion to private equity company KKR. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20793186-643,00.html
For more on the media changes, visit www.xmedia.org.au

JUST Workshops - Smart super strategies, super & retirement, and allocated pensions. Register www.just.com.au/Content.aspx?topicID=130