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Hot Labor Summer

“Los Angeles is ground zero in the fight for the middle class in America. The Los Angeles Labor Movement is setting the tone for the rest of the nation in their fight against corporate greed in the U.S.” – Yvonne Wheeler, President, L.A. County Federation of Labor

In every industry, every union, workers are saying enough is enough to wages that can’t pay the bills and bosses who have profited off their hard work. Transportation workers, hotel workers, writers, actors, baristas, government workers, teachers, and healthcare workers are standing together in solidarity as they fight for livable wages, benefits, and fair working conditions.

Photo by Linda A. Rapka // AFM Local 47 musicians and leadership turned out to the massive Unions Strike Back rally in downtown Los Angeles on May 26, where thousands of workers gathered in a massive show of solidarity to support the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike.

Continue reading →

Final Note: Lincoln Mayorga

Life Member. Piano
3/28/1937 – 7/3/2023

Lincoln Mayorga, the consummate musician as well as founder of Townhall Records and co-founder of Sheffield Lab and the Mastering Lab, has died. The concert pianist, arranger, composer, conductor, producer, and audiophile innovator was equally comfortable performing classical music on international stages and arranging and playing with popular artists in diverse venues — pop, jazz, classical, and rock ‘n’ roll. Continue reading →

Final Note: Howie Shear

Former Member. Trumpet
8/5/1954 – 6/27/2023

A highly respected Los Angeles trumpeter, composer, and arranger, Howie was a Van Laar Trumpets artist and endorsed Bob Reeves mouthpieces. He received a Bachelor of Music Education from Fredonia State University in 1975, a Master of Music with a major in Jazz Studies from the Eastman School of Music in 1977, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California in 2002. He studied trumpet with James F. Burke, Raymond Crisara, and Carmine Caruso. Continue reading →

August 2023 Overture Online: Hot Labor Summer

Inside This Issue:

COVER STORY: Hot Labor Summer – Labor disputes in every sector heat up the Southland
Musicians ramp up support for striking writers & actors
Member Spotlight: Dave Grohl
Report from the 102nd American Federation of Musicians Convention
Modern Composition: Free classes for AFM 47 members begin Aug. 2
Book Review: ‘Beyond Lip Service: A Framework for Brass Fundamentals”
Auditions: Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, Bay Philharmonic

and more!

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No smart device? No problem! View our pdf archive here.

UPS Teamsters Authorize Strike, Rally in Downtown Los Angeles

UPS Teamsters rallied and picketed in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, just over a week before their contract with the shipping company is set to expire, raising the specter of a possible strike.

Among those in attendance were AFM Local 47 President Stephanie O’Keefe and Vice President Marc Sazer along with other members. Members of the Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild of America, which are both currently on strike, also attended the Teamsters event. Continue reading →

Musicians Join July 4th Hotel Workers’ March & Rally

Striking workers at dozens of Southern California hotels spent their Fourth of July on picket lines, joined by thousands of supporters.

AFM Local 47 joined the march and rally in Santa Monica, demonstrating outside of several local hotels in support of workers workers pushing for higher wages and better health and retirement benefits.

The contract between the hotels and UNITE HERE Local 11, which represents 15,000 workers employed at major hotels, expired at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. Workers officially walked off the job on Sunday.

July 2023 Overture Online: Notice of Data Breach

AFM Local 47 recently experienced a data breach. For more information please click here.

Due to circumstances related to this event, we are unable to publish a July 2023 issue of our monthly e-magazine, Overture Online. Our regular publication schedule will resume with the August 2023 issue. We apologize for any inconvenience.

WGA STRONG March & Rally

AFM Local 47 members joined with more than 5,000 supporters in a dazzling display of union solidarity at the WGA STRONG rally on Wednesday, June 21. Thousands marched from Pan Pacific Park to the La Brea Tar Pits, where an array of special guest speakers and performers voiced their overwhelming support for striking WGA members. Continue reading →

General Membership Meeting: July 24, 2023

On the Agenda (subject to change):
– Presentation of 50-Year Pins
– Guest Speaker: Lindsay Dougherty, Teamsters Local 399 Secretary-Treasurer & IBT Western Region Vice President
– Officer Reports
– Old and New Business

Open to all AFM Local 47 members in good standing

RSVP at afm47.org/gmm
(Your RSVP is encouraged, but not required) Continue reading →

Unions Strike Back!

In an unprecedented and impressive show of solidarity, thousands of workers gathered for a massive rally in downtown Los Angeles on May 26 to support the ongoing Writers Guild of America as they entered week four of their strike. In addition to WGA, many other unions — including the AFM — have contracts ending this year. Continue reading →