AFM Departments Work Collaboratively to Empower Organizing Campaigns

April 1, 2026

Tino Gagliardi  -  AFM International President

As I write this column, we have concluded the second round of our Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA) negotiations. We have made some progress but are still far from an agreement. While things are moving slowly, I am pleased to report the positive impact of rally we held March 11 in Times Square. I thank Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) for attending and offering his support. We were able to send a clear message to the major labels that they face a strong and united front. You can read more about the rally on page 8.

Stronger Together: SSD and Organizing Services

This issue of the International Musician turns the spotlight on symphonic musicians and our Symphonic Services Division (SSD). This is an area where we have seen some strong organizing campaigns. While symphony orchestras are already among the most highly organized institutions in North America, we are making new strides with smaller groups, summer festival orchestras, and music teachers. Many symphony musicians supplement their income by working as music teachers as well as performing and teaching at summer music festivals. They deserve the protections and fair pay provided by collective agreements in these positions as well.

The AFM SSD and Organizing Services Department are actively working with and supporting musicians of the True Concord Voices and Orchestra, members of Local 33 (Tucson, AZ). We are waiting for management to recognize the union but have achieved over 75% of musicians in support of organizing.

The AFM is working with Local 380-443 (Binghamton-Oneonta, NY) and musicians of the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, who have signed union cards. Musicians of the Vista Philharmonic at Groton Hill Music Center, who won an election to be represented by Local 173-300 (Fitchburg, MA) in 2023, are currently negotiating for their first collective bargaining agreement.

We’ve also led successful organizing campaigns with music education institutions at Sistema New Brunswick with Local 815 (Saint John, NB) and Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) with Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA). The Heart of Los Angeles YOLA site had a National Labor Relations Board election in early December 2025 and won union certification overwhelmingly. Later in the month, the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) certified Local 47 at the YOLA Camino Nuevo site and a new site at Cisneros.

If you are performing in an orchestra, a summer festival, or teaching at an institution without the protections of a collective agreement, reach out to your local or the Organizing Services Department to learn more about how we can support an organizing campaign in your workplace.

A Proactive Partnership

These successes are the result of our Organizing Services Department and SSD working together like never before. By integrating these departments, we are shifting from a reactive model to a proactive one. This partnership provides a Federation-wide support system that reaches musicians across the United States and Canada, ensuring that no local or ensemble has to navigate the complexities of labor relations alone.

The enhanced Organizing Department does more than just sign cards; it empowers musicians. Organizing also works closely with the AFM Education Department to train both locals and musicians on union organization. We are providing musicians with the tools to understand their rights, build internal committees, and develop the collective leverage necessary to secure fair contracts. Whether it is a regional orchestra in Ontario or a freelance ensemble in the Southwest, this collaborative approach ensures that the high standards of the AFM are upheld everywhere.

Expanding Our Field Staff

To support this growth, we are investing heavily in our greatest asset: our staff. With the addition of two new SSD negotiators this month, the division now has five full-time negotiators. You can read about our newest negotiators on page 11. We are also planning to add a part-time, French-speaking SSD negotiator later this year to better serve our francophone members.

We also continue to grow our organizing team by adding a total of four regional organizers this year. These organizers will be on the ground, providing the direct mentorship and strategic education our musicians need to win. To better serve our diverse membership, we have also hired a bilingual Spanish and a bilingual French organizer. By building this infrastructure, we aren’t just growing our numbers—we are strengthening the voice of every musician in the Federation. Look for more information and introductions in the May IM.

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