Dear Members:

On June 9, 2015, the AFM Local 47 Executive Board requested strike sanction approval from the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor against Cinema Scoring, CMG Music Recording, and Peter Rotter Music Services. This request came as the result of these employers’ actual and/or potential non-union engagements that would undermine area standards and harm the livelihoods of musicians who depend on fair employment for their survival.

On June 24, the strike sanctions were approved by the LA County Federation of Labor, which represents over 300 unions and hundreds of thousands of working women and men throughout Los Angeles County. These strike sanctions mean that if and when any of the aforementioned parties calls a non-union engagement, other labor unions have agreed to stand in solidarity with us and not cross our line. Executive Secretary-Treasurer Rusty Hicks sent letters to all parties informing them of the strike sanction authorizations, which can be read here.

If you are being pressured to participate in non-union work or take financial-core status and quit the union, know that it is illegal for employers or employers’ representatives to coerce, pressure or otherwise influence any employee to take fi-core status under the National Labor Relations Act. If you are being unfairly pressured, you are encouraged to contact me or another titled officer so we may take action, with legal counsel if necessary, on your behalf to ensure your rights as a union worker are protected.

Local 47 plans to conduct informational leafleting at any work sites where any of these employers are conducting non-union engagements. Members interested in supporting this effort and ensuring our industry standards are not diminished are encouraged to contact Local 47 Organizer Merideth Cleary at (323) 993-3143 (office) or (310) 691-6756 (mobile).

In Unity,
John Acosta
President, AFM Local 47