The Elections Are Concluded … Probably

November 1, 2024

Ken Shirk  -  AFM International Secretary-Treasurer

As of this writing, the US presidential elections have not yet been held, although I suspect that as this paper hits the membership’s mailboxes, the votes will have been counted, the networks will have announced a winner, and the promised lawsuits challenging the outcome will have been filed. Can American musicians look forward to a supportive federal government? Which parties control the houses of Congress? Which parties control your state’s executive and legislative branches?

As I write this column in mid-October, those questions are live, sparking wires, indeed. By the time you read this, those questions will probably be answered. Canadian members, it will be your turn next. What examples can you take from the American elections to help you shape the outcome you desire for your national political and legislative leaders?

Whatever the outcome for either country, the main task in front of us as musicians and union members will be to remain strong, determined, and focused. We get only what we demand. No one will give it to us out of the goodness of their hearts; capitalism doesn’t work that way, regardless of whether liberal- or conservative-leaning politicians are in power. Our National Legislative Office will be carefully curating a list for 2025 of who are our friends, who are our enemy combatants, and who needs to become our friends—the first step in what will be a long-game campaign to fix the 2017 tax reform, pass the American Music Fairness Act, secure guardrails for musicians as the development of artificial intelligence continues its inexorable forward roll, work for a more equitable visa program for Canadian members working in the US, and develop a better system for carrying instruments through our airports.

Group Membership Insurance Programs Update

We are two months behind schedule, but our fervent wish and intention is that the AFM’s group insurance administrators, HUB/Insureon/VIU, will have all our new and improved group membership insurance programs in place. A few kinks and details are being hammered out, but as program completion draws near, we anticipate a new benefits program that will offer members more options and more individually tailored types of policy offerings. AFM Assistant Secretary Wages Argott and AFM Communications Director Antoinette Follett have been steadily and energetically working with the insurance representatives for the past two-and-a-half months, refining the scope of coverages and developing pathways to update and inform the membership and position local union officers with the information and tools to assist members in obtaining the coverages they need. Learn more about the policies offered in this article.

Emergency Relief Fund Available for Members Impacted by the Hurricanes

Emails, along with web and print articles, abound but it bears repeating at every juncture: AFM members in good standing who live or were employed as musicians in the areas designated by FEMA as “Federal Disaster Areas for individual assistance” and who suffered losses from the hurricanes and storms not covered by insurance can apply to the AFM Emergency Relief Fund to help in their recovery from such losses.

The application form, policy guidelines, and instructions can be downloaded from the AFM website at www.afm.org/emergency-assistance.

Additionally, financial assistance is available from the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund). For information and eligibility of other resources available for musicians affected by natural disasters and public health crises, such as COVID, visit: www.entertainmentcommunity.org/am-i-eligible-help.

Union members who participate in Union Plus programs may be eligible for additional financial assistance through the Union Plus Disaster Relief program. To date, this fund has provided over $1 million in assistance to union members facing hardships. To learn more about the benefits and eligibility requirements, go to: www.unionplus.org/hardship-help/disaster-relief-grants.

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