Since I was eligible for an Equity card through my affiliation with AGMA (
American Guild of Musical Artists), I only needed to shell out half of the requisite fee, $600, to become a member.
The dancers' union, the
American Guild of Musical Artists, filed an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB, claiming that, in retaliation for the union vote, the company refused to renew the two dancers' contracts.
According to Figgins, a representative from The
American Guild of Musical Artists advised them not to go, only because, as AGMA members, the union could not protect them in a non-union environment.
For starters, there's a practical answer: The
American Guild of Musical Artists didn't add a maternity clause to its contracts until 1990.
The dancers' union, the
American Guild of Musical Artists, responded to the suspension by addressing the rights of fire dancers.
The
American Guild of Musical Artists issued a statement last November, however, warning them that any company that has negotiated an agreement with the union may not charge fees for auditions.
Through the efforts of Milton and his editorializing, dance companies contracted with the well-organized
American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) whose membership dancers enjoyed sick pay, reasonable salaries, and other benefits previously denied them.