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H&W: The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1988 (WHCRA) & The Newborn And Mothers Health Protection Act of 1996 (NMHPA)

Professional Musicians, Local 47 and Employers’ Health & Welfare Fund

Reconstructive Surgery Fully Covered After Mastectomy
WOMEN’S HEALTH AND CANCER RIGHTS ACT OF 1998

The Professional Musicians Local 47 and Employers Health and Welfare Fund (“the Fund”) purchases health insurance benefits through Health Net of California and provides you with this notice as required by the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1988 (WHCRA).

In compliance with WHCRA, Health Net provides benefits for mastectomy-related services, including all stages of reconstruction and surgery to achieve symmetry between the breasts, prostheses, and for complications resulting from a mastectomy, including lymph edemas. Continue reading →

Urgent – Call your Senator TODAY to support SB 562 #HealthyCA

As early as tomorrow, the State Senate will be voting on the Healthy California Act, SB 562.

Every AFM Local in California has endorsed SB 562, which will create a Single-Payer “Medicare for All” program that includes dental, vision, reproductive, and nursing care for all Californians. Unions continue to see the increasing costs of healthcare being shifted to workers. Money saved from lower healthcare costs can go to wages.

Insurers, lobbyists, and their corporate allies in the California Senate are pressuring state senators to vote down SB 562. Don’t let this happen!

Dial 855-271-8515 to call your Senator and say: “All Californians deserve guaranteed Healthcare. I’m urging my Senator to vote to pass SB 562, the ‘Healthy California Act.'” Continue reading →

Musicians Stand Up Against Poverty Wages

Instrumental Casting, Shahkar called out for exploiting non-union musicians

Shahkar concertgoers support fair pay for musicians.

AFM Local 47 musicians leafleted the Shahkar Bineshpajooh concert outside the Dolby Theatre on May 20 for paying musicians sub-standard wages and for refusing to hire union members.

Local 47 staff also spoke with the non-union musicians at their rehearsal about joining the union and demanding a fair contract for work at major venues like the Dolby. Continue reading →

Wordless Music Charged With Unfair Labor Practice

AFM Local 47 has filed charges against Wordless Music for being in violation of the National Labor Relations Act.

Within the last six months, Wordless Music has refused to produce documents related to an upcoming performance at the Theater at Ace Hotel scheduled for June 3, 2017.

The furnishing of this information is necessary to complete its obligation as a bargaining representative.

Healthy California: Help Guarantee Healthcare for All

Join us in canvassing Sen. Hertzberg’s district in a final push to get his vote

AFM Local 47 has endorsed SB 562, the Healthy California Act, will guarantee high-quality healthcare for all Californians.

But first it has to pass a vote coming this week in the State Senate. Key senators who have not committed to voting for SB 562 – like Senator Hertzberg – need to hear from constituents ASAP.

Join other Healthy California supporters along with the Democracy Project and Our Revolution Tuesday, May 30 or Wednesday, May 31 to knock on some doors and spread the Healthy California message in Senator Hertzberg’s home district! Continue reading →

Memorial for Romeo Williams

FCC Just Moved Closer to Destroying Net Neutrality

Today the FCC voted to move forward with Chairman Ajit Pai’s proposal to dismantle net neutrality. This means that his plan, ironically called “Restoring Internet Freedom,” will now open for public comment and is one step closer to being implemented.

Join The Nation, Free Press Action Fund, and other allies in demanding that the FCC leave net neutrality alone. Then sign up for a strategy call organized by Free Press Action Fund for Tuesday, May 23, to find out how else you can fight back. Continue reading →

Chris Cornell: Remembering an icon

We join the world in mourning the loss of Chris Cornell, who died the evening of May 17, 2017. He was 52.

A member of AFM Local 47, Chris was a dynamic musician and one of the greatest voices of this generation. The frontman of influential ’90s grunge group Soundgarden, he went on to join two supergroups, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog, in addition to enjoying a successful solo career. Continue reading →

Final Note: Dave Pell

Life Member. Alto/Tenor Saxophone
2/26/1925 – 5/7/2017

He lived to entertain and laugh. He was successful at both. Dave Pell, legend with the saxophone and an innovative voice of the West Coast Jazz movement has passed away at the age of 92. Continue reading →

Film & TV Tax Credits Fact Sheet: What they are and what they mean for California musicians

What are film/TV tax credits?

Movie and television incentives are tax benefits offered by many regions in the U.S. and abroad to encourage film/TV production in that region. These incentives began in the U.S. in the 1990s in response to the flight of movie productions to countries such as Canada. Today, these tax incentives are offered by countries around the world, and most states in the U.S. such as California, New York, Louisiana, New Mexico, Virginia, Georgia and Ohio.

How have tax credits impacted the industry worldwide?

Tax credits — whether they’re in California or any other state, or abroad — have become part and parcel of film and television financing. Financiers of a film or television project will look to maximize tax credits wherever they can in order to subsidize the production budget. It’s often said that now, when a film or TV show is being planned, the first very conversation is about the location of available tax credits! In general, tax incentives do not create NEW employment; instead they shift jobs from one state or country to another. As the number of tax credit programs around the world has grown, the number of films released to wide distribution each year has remained steady (or even shrunk). Continue reading →