The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) is proud to announce the ratification of the Basic Theatrical Motion Picture and Basic Television Motion Picture Agreements contract. This new agreement, unanimously recommended by the bargaining committee, represents a significant victory for musicians working in film and television. Continue reading
The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) has reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on the Basic Theatrical Motion Picture and Basic Television Motion Picture contracts. The agreement, unanimously recommended by the bargaining committee, represents a significant victory for musicians working in film and television.
“This agreement represents a major win for musicians who have long been under-compensated for their work in the digital age,” declared AFM International President and Chief Negotiator Tino Gagliardi. “We have secured historic breakthroughs in streaming residuals, established critical guardrails against the misuse of AI, gained meaningful wage increases and other important gains. This agreement represents a watershed moment for the artists who create the soundtracks for countless film and TV productions.” Continue reading
**Event Will Happen Rain or Shine at 9 a.m. **
Los Angeles — On Monday, January 22 at 9 a.m, musicians of the American Federation of Musicians will host a press conference and rally in front of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) headquarters in Sherman Oaks, CA and host a rally ahead of the first day of contract negotiations.
AFM will be joined by members and representatives from SAG-AFTRA, the Teamsters, IATSE, WGA and the LA County Federation of Labor. Continue reading
Los Angeles, CA — The countdown is on! On January 22, the AFM will enter the ring with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the powerful negotiating body representing major studios and networks.
Last summer, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA secured historic contracts after unprecedented strikes, marking a new era of worker solidarity and industry recognition for artist value. These victories ripple outwards, offering potent opportunities for us, the musicians, to leverage in our fight for fair compensation and working conditions. Continue reading
At our April 24, 2023 Local 47 General Membership Meeting, Special Elections took place to fill five vacant offices. The first vote for Secretary/Treasurer yielded the following returns:
SECRETARY/TREASURER – 1 elected
Gail Kruvand – 52
Gary Lasley – 4
Kruvand assumed office immediately upon the completion of the ballot count announcement and certification by the Election Board during the meeting. Kruvand succeeds Danita Ng-Poss, who had served as Secretary/Treasurer since January 2021 until her resignation in January 2023. Continue reading
The Executive Board of American Federation of Musicians Local 47 condemns the appalling anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, homophobic comments made during a meeting of now-former Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmembers Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León, and now-former Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera.
The hateful language used during this meeting, held within the walls of the House of Labor, was entirely unacceptable, as was the very nature of the meeting itself — scheming to disenfranchise Black and Asian voters by way of redistricting, the practice of which is deeply rooted in racial discrimination. These are not the values of the labor movement, nor are they the values of Angelenos. The only way forward is to demand accountability and swift action in the face of racism, homophobia, and bigotry, and to work for inclusion and solidarity.
Herrera’s resignation from the labor federation was wholly appropriate, and the continued presence of these three Los Angeles City Council members will only serve to create further division and pain in our already hurting communities. AFM Local 47 demands the immediate resignation of Cedillo, de León and Martinez, whose sentiments do not represent the residents of Los Angeles and the ever-growing and powerful labor movement.
Marc Sazer has been elected the new vice president of the American Federation of Musicians Local 47, following the resignation of longtime vice president Rick Baptist.
Sazer, who was nominated alongside Kirstin Fife and Bonnie Janofsky, assumed office immediately upon the special election vote tally and certification by the election board during the union’s membership meeting on Jan. 24, 2022. He now serves as vice president alongside President Stephanie O’Keefe and Secretary/Treasurer Danita Ng-Poss, both of whom were elected at the union’s most recent general election in December 2020. Continue reading
LOS ANGELES, CA (January 5, 2021) – Members of the American Federation of Musicians Local 47 shattered a more than century-old glass ceiling by electing Stephanie O’Keefe as the first woman president in the union’s 123-year history. Secretary/Treasurer Elect Danita Ng-Poss, originally from Malaysia, will be the first person of Asian descent to serve as a titled officer of the union. Continue reading
Today the Executive Board of the American Federation of Musicians Local 47 announced its endorsements for the 2020 Presidential Election.
Amid rising calls for action, Local 47 members and leaders have become more politically engaged since the last presidential election. There’s a growing consensus among musicians that the 2020 election will have tremendous consequences, and that organizations that can take a stand should do so. Endorsements were taken up at the most recent Local 47 Executive Board meeting, open to all Local 47 members, where rank-and-file musicians and elected leaders had a healthy, open discussion about the contests most important to musicians and our communities.
“Today Local 47 is taking positions that reflect the priorities of working musicians and our communities: strengthening workers’ rights, expanding healthcare, addressing climate change and ending racial injustice,” said AFM Local 47 President John Acosta. “That’s what we stand for, and that’s why we’re calling on all our fellow musicians to vote, to volunteer, and to bring music into the fight for justice.” Continue reading
American Federation of Musicians Local 47 President John Acosta today released the following statement on the murder of George Floyd:
“We stand with the people in our nation and around the world in condemnation of the murder of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Philando Castile, Michael Brown, and too many others who have fallen victim to police violence. It is not enough to speak out over the racial inequality in our nation; we need to fight back against the attitudes and actions that have become so pervasive in our society.
“Now more than ever each and every one of us must do more, say more, and be more. We must be better than who we are if we are to make the lasting change our country needs so desperately.
“AFM Local 47 condemns racism of any kind and strengthens our resolve to work toward achieving meaningful, lasting change that brings equality and justice to everyone in our society.”