IM

Patrick Lamb

February 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 […]

Could You Live on $2.13/Hour?

February 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 […]

Report Shows Benefits of Paid Sick Days

February 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 […]

Government Supplier Worker Exploitation Revealed

February 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 […]

New Boeing Contract Maintains 777X Production

February 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 […]

Rhode Island DJ Resorts to Anti-Union Profanity

February 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 […]

Streaming Sales Rising

February 1, 2014

According to Nielsen and Billboard’s 2013 Music Report, which compiles music sales, radio airplay, and music streaming data, more than 118 billion streams took place in 2013. While total sales of physical albums dropped by about 14%, the number of albums bought on vinyl increased by 33%.

NLRB Files Complaint Against Walmart

February 1, 2014

In January, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed a formal complaint against Walmart for violating the rights of nearly 70 workers who rallied over workplace conditions in 14 states on Black Friday. The workers were illegally fired and/or disciplined for speaking out. If the retailer is found liable workers could have any disciplinary actions […]

Trumka Applauds Confirmation of Yellen

February 1, 2014

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka applauded President Obama and the Senate’s selection and confirmation of Janet Yellen as chair of the Federal Reserve. Trumka said, in part, “As chair of the Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen will deepen the commitment to the Fed’s ‘dual mandate.’” Aside from being a brilliant economist, “her well-deserved ascension to the chair […]

AFM Members Among Hardest Working Classical Artists

February 1, 2014

According to an end of year report from classical event finder and reviewer Bachtrack, AFM members were among some of the hardest working classical artists worldwide. Among the top 10 busiest conductors was Michael Tilson Thomas of Locals 47 (Los Angeles, CA) and 9-535 (Boston, MA), ranked eighth. Sadly, the report found only one of […]