Now is the right time to become an American Federation of Musicians member. From ragtime to rap, from the early phonograph to today's digital recordings, the AFM has been there for its members. And now there are more benefits available to AFM members than ever before, including a multi-million dollar pension fund, excellent contract protection, instrument and travelers insurance, work referral programs and access to licensed booking agents to keep you working.
As an AFM member, you are part of a membership of more than 80,000 musicians. Experience has proven that collective activity on behalf of individuals with similar interests is the most effective way to achieve a goal. The AFM can negotiate agreements and administer contracts, procure valuable benefits and achieve legislative goals. A single musician has no such power.
The AFM has a proud history of managing change rather than being victimized by it. We find strength in adversity, and when the going gets tough, we get creative - all on your behalf.
Like the industry, the AFM is also changing and evolving, and its policies and programs will move in new directions dictated by its members. As a member, you will determine these directions through your interest and involvement. Your membership card will be your key to participation in governing your union, keeping it responsive to your needs and enabling it to serve you better. To become a member now, visit www.afm.org/join.
September 1, 2023
by Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress The work of Canada’s labour movement in recent years has been replete with success, benefiting every worker in Canada. From investments to tackle climate change, protections for workers with paid sick days, and an expansion of the Canada Pension Plan, the ability of unions to advance our economy […]
Read MoreAugust 30, 2023
On August 22, a historic day of solidarity took place across the nation as AFL-CIO affiliates from all industries joined in rallies with members of the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and Writers Guild of America (WGA). The streets echoed with support for the striking actors and writers […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2023
by Jane Owen, AFM Symphonic Services Division Negotiator I realize I’m preaching to the faithful here. If you are reading this article, you are probably a union musician, and interested enough to learn more about your union’s structure, inner workings, and ability to help you as a professional musician. But you may have been asked […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2023
by Todd Jelen, AFM Symphonic Service Division Negotiator/Organizer/Educator Most of us followed the coverage of the musicians of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and their three-month strike from December to March. They achieved a great win by maintaining their solidarity through tremendous adversity and by employing varying actions and tactics to achieve their goal. Those on […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2023
by Bernard LeBlanc, AFM Symphonic Services, Canada, Directorand Richard Sandals, AFM Symphonic Services, Canada, Associate Director In the AFM Symphonic Services Division (SSD), we get a lot of questions—often from management, but sometimes from a member, a local, or an orchestra committee—that remind us of a question you might have heard several million times from […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2023
by Steve Wade, ROPA President and member of Local 400 (Hartford-New Haven, CT) It’s that most wonderful time of the year: conference season for all of the AFM’s player conferences. By the time you’re reading this article, the Regional Orchestra Players Association (ROPA) will have concluded its 40th Conference, held July 25-27 at the Courtland […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2023
by Paul Austin, ICSOM President and member of Local 56 (Grand Rapids, MI) The 61st annual conference of the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) will be hosted by AFM Local 8 (Milwaukee, WI), and the musicians of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO). The conference will be held from Wednesday, August 23, through […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2023
by Robert Fraser, OCSM President and member of Local 247 (Victoria, BC) The 48th annual Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians (OCSM) Conference will be held August 14-17 at Hotel Ruby Foo’s in Montreal, Quebec. Local 406 (Montreal, PQ) has made a generous donation toward our conference. We look forward to having close to a full […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2023
Musicians are susceptible to any number of performance-related injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome and joint pain. But, let’s face it, the eyes and ears do the heavy lifting in performance. As a focus of health and wellness, vision is often taken for granted. Focusing on small notes on a page for long periods of time, […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2023
by Adam DeSorgo, AFM Symphonic Services Division Negotiator Chicago has historically been a stronghold for labor. From the Haymarket Affair in 1886 that crystallized the campaign for the eight-hour day, to the Chicago Teacher’s Union strike in 2012, this tradition continues to the present day. Labor has one of its own as the mayor of […]
Read More