The Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 AFM, filed unfair labor charges under the National Labor Relations Act against Little Airplane Prods. Inc., the makers of the hit animated preschool series The Wonder Pets! The organization claims that Little Airplane used coercion and negotiated in bad faith when it replaced its Wonder Pets! musicians while engaged in contract negotiations.
According to Local 802 AFM, the musicians employed by Little Airplane requested last summer in writing that their employer negotiate a contract with the union. A negotiation session was held on May 14 at Local 802 headquarters on West 48th Street to clarify a number of economic proposals currently on the table. The musicians, members of the American Federation of Musicians, say they were then replaced without notice.
Little Airplane met with the union again on July 10 to exchange economic proposals, but the two sides couldn’t reach an agreement. The union says that the toon producer threatened to have all music recorded in the Czech Republic if the New York musicians continued to pursue a union contract. The company is currently paying musicians as independent contractors rather than employees, which the union says is a violation of state employment law.
‘The tactics employed by Little Airplane represent the lowest level of bad faith negotiating, worker intimidation and sharp business practices, damaging its integrity and that of the corporations that broadcast their programs,’ reads a statement released Local 802. ‘It is tragic that a media company specializing in quality children’s programming emphasizing character development openly embraces such hypocritical business dealings.’
Further charges will be filed with the National Labor Relations Board. Local 802 urges Little Airplane to return to the negotiating table, rehire its former musicians and bargain in good faith. The union will hold a press conference on the matter on Wednesday, July 30 at 11 a.m. at 207 Front Street in New York.
