Reflections by Local 47 member Ross Altman, Ph.D

Recently I had the strangest dream. It had to do with my union card for American Federation of Musicians Local 47, and what it means to me. In my dream I just barely touched the truck in front of me when we were both stopped at a red light. The driver got out and decided to make a federal case out of it, even though there was no visible damage to the back of his truck. He said that he would not report it if I agreed to give up my “freight card” (in his words) for good; I would no longer be a member of the professional musicians’ union. I told you it was a strange dream. And yet it forced me to confront the question of what my union card meant to me—and whether it was worth all the hassle and potential expense of dealing with my insurance company and the DMV in order to keep my card. Continue reading →