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.
August 1, 2024
by Steve Wade, ROPA President and member of Local 400 (Hartford-New Haven, CT) As of this writing, preparation continues for the 40th anniversary conference of the Regional Orchestra Players’ Association (ROPA), July 29-August 1, hosted by Local 6 (San Francisco, CA). Our final schedule is still evolving, but I can tell you about many of […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2024
by Keith Carrick, ICSOM Chair and Member of Local 104 (Salt Lake City, UT) This year, International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) orchestras have been confronting the pressing issue of sexual misconduct within our industry. The revelations of such behavior have prompted a necessary and urgent dialogue on these problems. ICSOM remains steadfast […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2024
by Robert Fraser, OCSM President and member of Local 247 (Victoria, BC) en français : L’OMOSC se réunit en appui aux musiciens du KWS The 49th Annual Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians (OCSM) Conference will be held August 12-15, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Kitchener, Ontario. We chose Kitchener as our conference site as soon […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2024
The rigor of playing an instrument, performing complex and demanding physical movements on a daily basis, means musicians are at high risk for tendonitis, bursitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Repetitive movement, especially for extended periods, can significantly strain muscles and joints. Back pain and pain of the upper extremities are common, whether it’s shoulder pain […]
Read MoreJuly 30, 2024
The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) has announced its enthusiastic endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for president in the 2024 election and thanked President Joe Biden for his dedication to public service and support for working people. This presidential endorsement is based on the Biden-Harris administration’s unwavering commitment […]
Read MoreJuly 30, 2024
The faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) successfully petitioned the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to hold an election to recognize AFM Local 4 (Cleveland, OH) as their representative for the purposes of collective bargaining. An organizing committee was created this past spring to determine if there was enough support among the teachers […]
Read MoreJuly 1, 2024
by Gabe Kristal, AFM Director of Organizing It is no secret that organized labor has been in decline for several decades from its high point in 1954, when more than one in three US workers belonged to a union. However, there is new momentum for our labor movement. Buoyed by the Biden Administration and the […]
Read MoreJuly 1, 2024
by Gabriel Feldman-Schwartz, AFM Field Organizer There are two competing ways to view the workplace. There’s the boss’s way: a place where workers shouldn’t communicate with each other and should do whatever is assigned to them with no hesitation. This workplace vision is full of deference to management, isolation, and competition among coworkers. Separately, there […]
Read MoreJuly 1, 2024
by Rahul Neuman, AFM Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) Organizer My start date as the organizer at AFM Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) coincided almost exactly with the start of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike last year. On that first day of the WGA strike, I went out with a small group of […]
Read MoreJuly 1, 2024
by Claire Park, AFM Field Organizer An organizing conversation could begin something like this: “Hey Joe, I overheard what you said at last week’s gig about your concerns with workplace safety. I feel the same way. I’ve been talking with some of the other musicians about how unionizing could help us. Do you have time […]
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