CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
#1CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/9/20 at 10:22pm
I just learned that Mary McColl's salary as the CEO of Actors Equity is $400,000 per year. I'm sorry but that seems awfully high especially when 99% of our union is unemployed.
#2CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/9/20 at 10:37pm
And you learned this where?
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#3CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/9/20 at 11:09pm
goldenboy said: "I just learned that Mary McColl's salary as the CEO of Actors Equity is$400,000 per year. I'm sorry but that seems awfully high especially when 99% of our union is unemployed."
If you’re a member of the union, then you are also aware that the union has furloughed and laid off a substantial number of employees and McColl, who makes about $390k, which is typical for the executive director of a union of AEA’s size, has taken a pay cut.
Lizzie: all unions are required to make public their annual financial information, including staff salaries. It can be accessed here:
https://olms.dol-esa.gov/query/getOrgQry.do
It is the first option in the drop down “Union Name by Abbreviaton”.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#4CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/9/20 at 11:14pm
Thank you!
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#5CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/9/20 at 11:27pm
Thank you, Kad, for being the voice of reason, and beating me to the response.
While it's fine to scrutinize what Mary's salary is, it must also be remembered that it is actually on the low end for her position in an organization as large and with similar operating budgets. Anyone who thinks Equity would be able to get someone nearly as qualified as her for a lower salary who would then stick around for any length of time is just dreaming.
jimmycurry01
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/05
#6CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/10/20 at 6:37amThe world can be a terrible place for those seeking unfairness behind every door.
#7CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/10/20 at 7:11am
That’s pretty standard so I’m not surprised.
Isn’t the minimum equity pay per week roughly $2000? That’s around $104k a year. So having the CEO salary 4x that is not bad.
#8CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/10/20 at 8:07am
Lol.
People finding out if you aren't an actor you get paid more money.
Broadway61004
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/11
#9CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/10/20 at 9:06am
Wick3 said: "That’s pretty standard so I’m not surprised.
Isn’t the minimum equity pay per week roughly $2000? That’s around $104k a year. So having the CEO salary 4x that is not bad."
That's only Broadway minimum. Most Equity actors are making nowhere near that a week (usually more in the $600-$800 a week range pending on the contract).
But regardless, I still agree it's nowhere near unethical for the CEO of a major union to continue to make $400,000 right now, especially when they've already taken a huge pay cut. It's obviously incredibly unfortunate how much of her union is out of work, but that's why she's getting paid, to find ways to get them back to work and support them when they're not.
PJPan
Featured Actor Joined: 5/6/13
#10CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/10/20 at 10:09am
Kad said: "If you’re a member of the union, then you are also aware that the union has furloughed and laid off a substantial number of employees and McColl, who makes about $390k, which is typical for the executive director of a union of AEA’s size, has taken a pay cut."
Thank you, Kad, for this reminder. A lot of employees of the union are out of work too - when the union doesn't work, neither do they. I find it so ridiculous how many people think that AEA wants things to stay shut down when an extended shutdown impacts not only its members but its employees. The point is making is safe for everyone to return to work - one of the reasons the union exists in the first place.
Tag
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/19/05
#11CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/10/20 at 11:17am
goldenboy said: "I just learned that Mary McColl's salary as the CEO of Actors Equity is$400,000 per year. I'm sorry but that seems awfully high especially when 99% of our union is unemployed."
You have no idea what you are talking about. She's working harder now than ever.
#12CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/10/20 at 11:24amAnd I can guarantee you that at this present moment in history she is probably underpaid. She has a huge task laid at her feet to work out with less staff than usual. People’s lives are in her hands.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
windowwaving
Stand-by Joined: 12/14/19
#13CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/10/20 at 11:49am
Yes, $400,000 is actually pretty low on the CEO scale. And one who is willing to take a true pay cut and not some BS stock option cut.
And while it sucks that everyone below her is probably unemployed, she is the one responsible for keeping everything going during this pandemic. The fact that she chooses to stay and is (probably) doing what she can to make things right and to make the right decisions is a very tough job.
#14CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/10/20 at 12:02pm
I’m actually surprised the president and other elected positions don’t get a salary.
Also, how does the job of the CEO differ from the president? I take it the CEO makes more financial decisions within the organization and the president is the main one negotiating contracts of the members?
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
LarryD2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/1/14
#15CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/10/20 at 12:23pm
This thread is a textbook example of why people shouldn't run their mouth on topics they know nothing about.
#16CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/10/20 at 1:02pm
Call_me_jorge said: "I’m actually surprised the president and other elected positions don’t get a salary.
Also, how does the job of the CEO differ from the president? I take it the CEO makes more financial decisions within the organization and the president is the main one negotiating contracts of the members?"
A lot of people are surprised when they learn how unions actually operate- and not just actually operate, but how they legally must operate. Whenever I see question like "why doesn't Equity just do X?", the answer is usually "They legally cannot do that."
Labor law in this country is designed to make it harder for unions to operate, plain and simple, under the guise of preventing corruption. Make no mistake- corruption in unions was a big problem in the early and mid-century. But what resulted was a series of byzantine laws that make it harder for unions to do things.
Equity, like most American labor unions, has two sets of people operating it: members like Kate Shindle and the rest of the Equity councilors and committee members who are elected by the membership, and the full-time staff like Mary McColl, who are hired by the staff (executives require input from the elected members, like how Cabinet officials are approved by the Senate). The elected members are the ones who make policy, approve budgets, and so on. Staff carry out and enforce those policies. It's a Legislative and Executive branch, sort of, and Kate Shindle is basically head of the Legislative branch representing the membership, Mary McColl is the head of the Executive branch and she leads the staff and the operations of the union as an institution. Contract negotiations are handled by a mix of staff and membership, a mix of institutional and operational knowledge and policy demands that represent the members.
Labor law requires a lot of things. Elected officials can't draw a salary from the union and aren't employees, due to the risk of conflict of interest. Staff likewise can't be active members of the union or serve in elected positions, also due to the conflict of interest. Conflict of interest is a major concern in labor law; even the appearance of it could result in action from the Department of Labor, particularly under an administration that is not labor friendly.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
Updated On: 7/10/20 at 01:02 PM
Sutton Ross
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#17CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/10/20 at 1:18pm
400k as a CEO in New York City? That's not a lot of money for that position here at all.
#18CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/10/20 at 2:25pm
Bettyboy72 said: "And I can guarantee you that at this present moment in history she is probably underpaid. She has a huge task laid at her feet to work out with less staff than usual. People’s lives are in her hands."
Nonprofit companies executives are working their butts off to get the PPP money and other grants and loans available from the government to keep people getting paid and the lights on.
theatrepersonNYC
Swing Joined: 4/5/20
#19CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/10/20 at 3:57pm
Nonsense. The CEO's and Executive Directors are asking their staff, many of whom have had pay cuts, or have been forced to take furloughs, to process those loans. The executive team may sign the documents, but they're not doing any of the actual work.
But hey, that's America. Why should a pandemic make a difference?
#20CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/10/20 at 4:20pm
theatrepersonNYC said: "Nonsense. The CEO's and Executive Directors are asking their staff, many of whom have had pay cuts, or have been forced to take furloughs, to process those loans. The executive team may sign the documents, but they're not doing any of the actual work.
But hey, that's America. Why should a pandemic make a difference?"
Here's a hint: when you have no idea what you are talking about, resist posting. (Thanks, though, for the word of warning at the beginning of your post. It was pretty apt.)
#21CEO of Equity Salary $400,000 while 99% of actors equity now unemployed
Posted: 7/13/20 at 1:37am
The CEO of our nonprofit makes $275K and I’d actually approve of him getting an INCREASE given he appears to be working 24/7 and is often in the news as an expert in our field.
“Nonprofit” does not mean low salaries. It means your board members do not profit off the work the way for profit board members do. We serve thousands and thousands of low income folks — exponentially more now — and without our CEOs outstanding leadership, I fear many of these clients would be struggling, causing societal issues, draining public funds, etc. For nonprofits serving large numbers, believe me, you want to attract a CEO who knows her/his stuff.
I assume while unions are not 501c3’s that the same is true for union management.
