Tag Archives: collective bargaining agreement

Teamwork Makes New Leadership Work 

Our new team has gotten off to a flying start. Vice President Acosta and Secretary/Treasurer Kruvand and I have been meeting, talking, working together and working things out. We are really fortunate to have John in the building, bringing his skill, knowledge and experience, and he and I are working closely together on our new roles.  

We are making change, in sync and as a team, even when that change is hard. This month, we made the very difficult decision to externalize some of our in-house services, laying off two employees. In each case, our moves were driven by cost savings, reducing the cost to our members by over half.  These actions were painful, but fiscally necessary. 

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LA Ballet Signs New Contract with AFM 47 

The Los Angeles Ballet, which closed a successful run of “The Nutcracker” at the Dolby Theatre, recently ratified their new successor collective bargaining agreement with AFM 47 on December 27, 2025. 

“The Los Angeles Ballet Orchestra Committee is thrilled to have ratified this CBA in collaboration with LA Ballet management and is excited to be a part of this innovative ballet company,” Marcia Dickstein, harpist and orchestra committee chair. 

“I am very pleased to have completed this negotiation,” said previous AFM Local 47 President Stephanie O’Keefe, who just stepped down in January 2026. “This new agreement clearly highlights LA Ballet’s commitment to the magic combination of live music and dance.” 

AFM Local 47 Welcomes YOLA Teaching Artists

Photo by Linda A. Rapka // AFM International President Tino Gagliardi stands with the YOLA Teaching Artists at the headquarters of Local 47 on December 8, following their filing for union representation.

Last month, teaching artists at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) won union representation by AFM Local Local 47.

YOLA at Torres, a performing arts magnet school in East LA, and YOLA at Inglewood teaching artists at the Beckmen YOLA Center were the first to receive recognition from the National Labor Relations Board in early December. YOLA at HOLA (Heart of Los Angeles), located in the Rampart district, followed with an overwhelming majority vote of its teaching artists the following week. Continue reading →

Palm Springs Symphony

Palm Springs Symphony Signs First-Time CBA With AFM Local 47 

Just days before the first concert of their inaugural season, the Palm Springs Symphony signed its first collective bargaining agreement with AFM Local 47, which saw 42 musicians performing on the stage of the newly refurbished Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs on December 7, 2025.

“Thanks to all the members who stepped up, asked the employer for a contract, and worked closely with the Local to bring this contract to fruition,” said AFM Local 47 President Stephanie O’Keefe. “We were able to reach an agreement less than 72 hours before the first rehearsal. The entire process was a great reminder of what we can accomplish when we all work together.”

New Agreement With Wallis Annenberg Center

We are pleased to announce a new three-year deal with the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.

The Wallis CBA is the result of many years of dialogue with the management at the venue. “I want to thank Local 47 member Dan Savant for his help in arriving at this deal along with Business Rep Michael Ankney, who maintained a good working relationship with the venue’s operations team,” says AFM Local 47 President John Acosta. Continue reading →