Tag Archives: organizing

Musicians, labor unite at Women’s March Los Angeles

Musicians marched alongside hundreds of thousands of fellow union members, community activists, and supporters in the Women’s March Los Angeles Saturday, January 21, 2017.

The Los Angeles demonstration — one of dozens of sister events throughout the nation and around the world held in tandem with the Women’s March on Washington, D.C. — centered around support not only for women’s rights, but for civil liberties, worker rights, healthcare, human dignity, and free speech. Event organizers stressed that the marches were not just for women or women’s issues but about issues with direct impacts on all citizens, and to show solidarity with those most at-risk under the current administration.

“I couldn’t not be here today,” said Dale Breidenthal, second violinist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. “We need to stand up for common decency for all humans.”

Led by a three-piece drumline, dozens of members of the American Federation of Musicians Local 47 marched alongside thousands of peaceful demonstrators from Pershing Square to City Hall. Musicians were joined by fellow union members and allies from the Writer’s Guild Association West, California Faculty Association from Long Beach State, Art Directors Guild I.A.T.S.E. 800, Campaign for Healthy California, Jewish Labor Committee Western Region and others.

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Musicians of the Pasadena Symphony visit Congressman Adam Schiff

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Today a group of musicians from the Pasadena Symphony visited the office of U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff.

“The musicians of the Pasadena Symphony have made a new friend with Congressman Adam Schiff,” said Phil O’Connor, clarinetist and member of the orchestra committee. “We believe this will help improve our community’s support for our orchestra and other American Federation of Musicians Local 47 members.” Continue reading →

Organizing: Building Power for Musicians in Los Angeles

Musicians from throughout the United States and Canada gather in solidarity at the 35th AFM Convention in Boston, 1930. (Photo: courtesy International Musician/AFM archives)

by Jefferson Kemper

Organizing has always been the foundation of the AFM. The strength of this union is predicated on our ability to get working musicians to agree on core principles and to advocate together for our common benefit. Since the late 1800s when the AFM was created and when musicians around the country founded their own local chapters, it’s been the ability to organize that has provided the leverage to demand fair compensation for the value of musicians’ work. Continue reading →

The Echo Society Signs Local 47 CBA

The Echo Society, a collaboration between composers, musicians, and other performing and visual artists, has entered into a collective bargaining agreement with Local 47 to cover its upcoming concert: “V.” Continue reading →

AFM Local 47 Announces New Agreement Reached With Amazon’s ‘Transparent’

Producers at Picrow agree to hold musicians to fair industry standard

LOS ANGELES, CA (April 11, 2016) — The American Federation of Musicians Local 47 is pleased to report that an agreement has been reached with the producers of Amazon original series “Transparent” to cover musicians working on the show under a union contract.

Producers at Picrow swiftly agreed to sign on to the AFM television and new media agreement after musicians from the Los Angeles musicians union spoke out publicly late last month asking for “Pride for Musicians,” pointing out the unequal treatment of musicians who were not covered under a labor contract unlike all the actors, writers, directors, crew and other workers. Continue reading →

Amazon’s ‘Transparent’ Blasted for Unequal Treatment of Musicians

** UPDATE 4/11/2016 — We are pleased to report that an agreement has been reached with the producers of Amazon original series “Transparent” to cover musicians working on the show under a union contract. Read more **

Labor organizations demand action asking ‘Where’s the pride for musicians?’

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LOS ANGELES, CA (March 29, 2016) — Amazon series “Transparent” has come under fire by leaders in the Los Angeles labor community for the unequal treatment of musicians who work on the show.

On Tuesday morning members of AFM Local 47, the Los Angeles chapter of the American Federation of Musicians, leafleted outside a desert location shoot in Pearblossom, California, asking “Where’s the pride for musicians?” and calling upon production company Picrow to hold musicians to the same standard as all its other workers. The acting talent, writers, directors, and crew receive union wages, benefits and protections; only musicians are shut out of a labor contract. Continue reading →

New Line Cinema signs AFM Basic Theatrical Motion Picture Agreement

Newlinecinema

Exciting announcement this week from the American Federation of Musicians:

New Line Productions, Inc. (New Line Cinema) has become the latest film studio to sign a contract with our union.

New Line Cinema signed onto AFM’s Basic Theatrical Motion Picture Agreement that sets wages, working conditions, healthcare and pension contributions for musicians working in film recording, sidelining and music preparation. The agreement also requires theatrical motion pictures produced by New Line Cinema in the United States or Canada to be scored in the United States or Canada.

The addition of New Line Cinema as a signatory to our Film Agreement will result in additional session work, health and pension benefits and residual payments for musicians employed in the scoring of motion picture soundtracks. This development is another positive step in our campaign to preserve and protect employment standards and to prevent the offshoring of sound recording work in the film industry.

– via afm.org

Greek Theatre New Manager SMG Commits to 100% AFM

Venue management firm SMG won the long and contentious battle over who will run the Greek Theatre, and takes over operations of the historic Griffith Park venue Nov. 1.

For the past four decades AEG/Nederlander managed the historic Griffith Park venue with an AFM agreement in place, and there was concern that new management would not guarantee a union contract. However, Rec and Parks General Manager Michael Shull was fully committed to securing an AFM contract for all performances at the Greek. Thanks to his efforts and Local 47 President John Acosta, SMG happily agreed to continue the union’s longstanding partnership with the venue. They signed a collective bargaining agreement that guarantees 100% of the music at the Greek is AFM over the next two years. Continue reading →

‘Carrie: The Killer Musical Experience’ Musicians Land Killer Contract

carrie-300x175 Just in time for the Halloween season, “Carrie: The Killer Musical Experience” landed at the Los Angeles Theatre in early October. Music Director Brian P. Kennedy worked tirelessly with Live Business Rep Michael Ankney to ensure this production signed onto a collective bargaining agreement with Local 47 to guarantee all the musicians received the fair wages, benefits and protections afforded by a union contract. Continue reading →

Listen Up! Campaign Gains International Support

At an advance screening for Lionsgate-released film “Step Up All In,” Hong Kong campaign supporters distributed leaflets to moviegoers in both English and Cantonese that described how the company is offshoring music jobs on U.S. taxpayers’ dime by accepting millions in tax subsidies. Photos & images: Courtesy Listen Up!

Activist and labor groups in Hong Kong show support for American musicians calling for Lionsgate to stop offshoring film scoring jobs on U.S. taxpayers’ dime

Hong Kong-based Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM) and several other Chinese activist groups have announced support of the American Federation of Musician’s Listen Up! campaign calling to end offshoring film scoring jobs.

At an advance screening for “Step Up All In,” the fifth release in the motion picture franchise, Hong Kong campaign supporters distributed leaflets to moviegoers in both English and Cantonese that described how Lionsgate Entertainment is offshoring music jobs on U.S. taxpayers’ dime by accepting millions in tax subsidies. Continue reading →