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.
February 7, 2014
The stolen “Lipinski” Stradivarius was recovered late Wednesday night according to Milwaukee police. The 300-year-old Stradivarius violin was stolen last week in an armed robbery after a performance at Wisconsin Lutheran College. The violin, which is valued at over $5 million, was found in a suitcase in the attic of a Milwaukee residence. The Stradivarius […]
Read MoreFebruary 5, 2014
President of AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka, released a statement on NLRB Election Rules. -February 5th- We applaud the National Labor Relations Board for proposing these common-sense rules to reduce delay in the NLRB election process. Similar rules were adopted by the NLRB more than two years ago after an exhaustive public rulemaking process. The rules were […]
Read MoreFebruary 5, 2014
The Milwaukee County district attorney’s office has confirmed that three people were arrested in connection with the Stradivarius violin that was stolen from the concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra last week. No other information was revealed about the arrests, and it still remains unclear if the violin has been recovered. The violin, known as […]
Read MoreFebruary 3, 2014
After 17 hit seasons performing on one of the world’s most popular TV programs, Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), the 28 men and women of the show’s live backing band—the Harold Wheeler Orchestra and Singers—have been fired. Producers of the show say the group will be replaced with pre-existing sound recordings and a “small electric […]
Read MoreFebruary 1, 2014
Patrick Lamb of Local 99 (Portland, OR) began his career on saxophone touring with jazz singer and pianist Diane Schuur of Local 7 (Orange County, CA) and later with Bobby Caldwell of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) and Local 99 member Gino Vannelli. In recent years, Lamb’s begun to focus more on his own career […]
Read MoreFebruary 1, 2014
According to the AFL-CIO, 3.5 million hourly workers earning minimum wage are living on about $15,000 per year. Also, most working families in the US have lost about $4,000 in income every year for the past decade. While 13 states raised their minimum wage at the beginning of this year, there needs to be an […]
Read MoreFebruary 1, 2014
Eighteen months after Connecticut became the first state to require employers to provide paid sick days, a survey from researchers at the Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) showed the law has had minimal effects on businesses, and has led to little or no increase in costs. Among the other findings of the study, employee […]
Read MoreFebruary 1, 2014
A The New York Times article uncovered numerous labor abuses at the hands of overseas suppliers to the US government. According to its investigation, Uncle Sam purchases around $1.5 million in clothing from factories exploiting workers with little regard for working conditions. The purchased uniforms are resold to federal workers. Among the companies was Missouri-based […]
Read MoreFebruary 1, 2014
Boeing International Association for Machinists (IAM) workers voted to accept an eight-year contract extension to ensure Boeing 777X production will stay in Washington State through 2024. The extension includes a two-part $15,000 signing bonus and changes to the members’ pension plans. According to the AFL-CIO, while the plan will continue to pay full benefits to […]
Read MoreFebruary 1, 2014
A group of Rhode Island union women, among them teachers and nurses, were shocked when local DJ John DePetro resorted to calling them names in reference to an on-air protest. Rhode Island working families and union members are now pressuring WPRO radio to end DePetro’s broadcast and get the show’s sponsor, national jewelry manufacturer Alex […]
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