WGA, SAG-AFTRA, Teamsters, IATSE Stand in Strong Solidarity with AFM

A little rain couldn’t dampen the high spirits of close to 300 AFM members and supporters during a morning rally and press conference on Jan. 22, 2024 in front of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) headquarters in Sherman Oaks, CA on the first day of negotiations for the Motion Picture/TV Film contract.

In a strong show of union solidarity, musicians were joined by members, union leaders and representatives from SAG-AFTRA, Writers Guild of America West, Teamsters, IATSE, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, and more.

The rally kicked off with lively music performed by an AFM Local 47 brass quintet comprising Dan Rosenboom (trumpet), Allen Fogle (French horn), P. Blake Cooper (tuba), Alex Iles (trombone) and Aaron Smith (trumpet), and was punctuated by speeches focused on unity and collective strength from AFM International President Tino Gagliardi and several union leaders: Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Yvonne Wheeler, Teamsters Local 399 Secretary-Treasurer and Motion Picture Division Director Lindsay Dougherty, Writers Guild of America West Vice President Michele Mulroney, SAG-AFTRA Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Pamela Greenwalt speaking on behalf of National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, and AFM Local 47 Vice President Marc Sazer. AFM Local 47 President Stephanie O’Keefe served as MC.

AFM President Stephanie O’Keefe

A common thread among all of the speakers was the importance of continued teamwork and unity as displayed during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which were marked by unprecedented labor solidarity that resulted in successful contract resolutions for both unions.

“We need our fair share right now with the AMPTP,” Gagliardi said to the crowd. “I want to thank today, especially our colleagues at the WGA, SAG-AFTRA, and Teamsters — everyone that is in the entertainment industry. Right now, we need to coalesce. We need to come together. We need to be able to get our fair share. We need to be able to make this happen. And I can’t do that alone. I need your help. I want you to know that I really appreciate you being here today because together we can do this.”

Gagliardi continued: “We need to have a say on what the guardrails are going to be for artificial intelligence. Look, we’re not Luddites. In fact, a lot of our people are developing this stuff. We need consent, we need compensation, and we need credit. That’s what’s going to be really important to us in these negotiations. The business model has changed for all of us. Musicians are making 75 percent less money now than they were before the streaming model. We need to have a residual on streaming. That’s going to be our big prize.”

For over a decade, musicians working on made-for-streaming movies and TV shows have been exploited by the multi-billion dollar film and television studios. Recording musicians performing on soundtracks are making 75% less on content premiering on streaming platforms, threatening our livelihoods. Musicians are demanding a fair contract which includes residual payments for made-for-streaming content, AI protection, increased industry wages, and improved working conditions.

The current contract was due to expire last November, but to ensure the integrity of essential contractual protections until the next agreement is reached and ratified, the agreement was extended through May. The first round of negotiations with AMPTP concluded Jan. 31, and will continue Feb. 21 and 22.

“Music is what gives our favorite movies and shows their soul, and these workers expect and deserve to be treated fairly and given the contract they’ve earned,” said AFM International President and Chief Negotiator Tino Gagliardi. “We are going into these negotiations in good faith, and we hope the AMPTP is doing the same.”

Statements of support for musicians were issued by top entertainment labor leaders: IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, Writers Guild of America West President Meredith Stiehm, Writers Guild of America East President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, and Teamsters Local 399 Secretary-Treasurer and Motion Picture Division Director Lindsay Dougherty. Read their statements of support on the next page of this issue, and stay tuned to the latest on the contract negotiations at AFMFairShareForMusicians.org.