The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, known as AFTRA, brought its 58th annual national convention to the Radisson Riverfront Hotel in St. Paul this past weekend. Among the issues the 400 delegates addressed was the increasing focus on corporate profits in the news business.

Don Shelby, WCCO-TV news anchor and reporter, warmly welcomed delegates to Minnesota, telling them they had come to a 'union community where trade unionism is honored and supported.'

The broadcast news industry, where Shelby and thousands of AFTRA members are employed, is becoming increasingly less hospitable to the union.

'We are facing some troubling times,' remarked Shelby in his rousing address to the convention. 'The corporatization of journalism is creating real problems for AFTRA and this country,' he said, noting the media's continuing conglomeration and its quest for higher profits.

'Now, more than ever, you won't be bargaining for your union alone, but for the welfare of this country. We must put on the mantle to uphold the integrity of broadcast journalism, as our bargaining efforts must be the moral compass for these news corporations.'

Nationwide organization
A national labor union affiliated with the AFL-CIO, AFTRA has headquarters in New York City and 36 local offices throughout the country, including the Twin Cities. AFTRA represents 80,000 workers in a wide array of entertainment and journalism professions; members include television and radio journalists and technicians, actors, talk show hosts, dancers, and singers.

Greg Hessinger, National Executive Director for AFTRA, addressed several of the union's most pressing challenges for the future during his Saturday report to the convention:

? The need to emphasize to members the industry struggle for equal opportunity and improved diversity.

? The need to take up the restrictions placed upon broadcast journalists regarding where and for whom they can work. Specifically, he said, the union must challenge non-compete clauses among the industry networks.

? The need to stem the declining influence of the union upon the industry talent pool. To counter this trend, the union must increase limitations on agents' commissions and find a balance between the concerns of AFTRA's smaller and larger markets, he said.

Hessinger also appealed to the convention delegates for an increased commitment to organizing. He said that the union must organize internally by consolidating the union's current ranks, and externally, by reaching out to new members. Key to this initiative, Hessinger added, is a renewed AFTRA identity, both among members and the public.

'We have to build our strength publicly, to build our strength nationally,' he said. To accomplish this task, the union must reach out to high-profile members, Hessinger said, calling the many celebrities with AFTRA membership 'an untapped reservoir of power.'

Focus on organizing
AFTRA Local President Mark Bradley, who represents 1,000 workers in the Twin Cities area, said he felt the union's national goals were very important to the local's specific concerns. 'I think Mr. Shelby and Mr. Hessinger were right on target because we are facing extremely powerful corporate entities,' he said.

Bradley said the local's current goal is 'trying to get as much work in the area, while working to organize new members.'

AFTRA Twin Cities Executive Director Colleen Aho said that 'nationally we are at a turning point as workers face challenges and opportunities, and labor, as a whole, must implement its task to organize new members and the entire industry.

"Although we are stretched for resources,' added Aho, 'we must keep our nose to the ground in the struggle for AFTRA, both locally and nationally.'

The two-day national convention, held on August 3 and 4, featured a number of workshops and sessions on issues affecting the broadcast and entertainment industries. Speakers included Minnesota AFL-CIO President Ray Waldron.

Jonathan Hulland is an intern this summer with www.workdayminnesota.org and the Union Advocate newspaper.

For more information

Visit the AFTRA website, http://www.aftra.org