Candidates Seeking Election for AFM Office

May 1, 2016

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An important part of each AFM Convention is the nomination and election of international officers who will lead the organization during the next three years. Also elected are delegates to the AFL-CIO Convention. Article 19, Section 2 of the AFM Bylaws provides for the publication of campaign statements by those candidates who have declared their intent to run for office. No candidate is required to publish a statement and all candidates may at any time prior to nominations pursue an office other than the one identified below.

INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

Raymond M. Hair, Jr., Local 72-147 (Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX)

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your president with this marvelous Unity Team. We’ve restored and maintained fiscal responsibility. With openness, activism, and real unionism, we’re negotiating and enforcing smart, progressive agreements. Through governmental advocacy, we’ve protected musicians’ interests and improved their lives. We’ve opened doors and found new rights money for AFM members, who make the music the world wants to hear. Difficult problems resolve with teamwork and Unity. Working together, we can preserve and protect our union and keep it strong, because we are stronger together. We ask for your vote. We are a winning team.

INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT

Bruce Fife, Local 99 (Portland, OR) President

It’s been an honor to represent and serve you as vice president of the American Federation of Musicians. Our union must remain strong and consistent in its leadership, provide the tools and support for our locals to remain vibrant, organize, and build our membership, and continue to strive for successful outcomes in critical local, national, and international negotiations. While we have not won every campaign, our team remains strong and our victories noteworthy. I ask for your continued trust, support, and guidance as we move forward and work together to keep our union strong and adaptive in this evolving industry.

VICE PRESIDENT FROM CANADA

Mark Jamison, Local 149 (Toronto, ON)

Canadian AFM members want to undertake a consensus-based review of AFM Canada’s activities that will serve the needs and aspirations of Canadian musicians. I was trained and worked as a symphony bass player and have had a successful career as an association executive leading media, business, and cultural membership organizations. With the skills, knowledge, and management success that I offer, as VP AFM Canada, I will help members identify approaches to key 21st Century contractual, regulatory, and professional image challenges and opportunities. I appreciate the encouragement of many members across Canada. It would be a privilege to serve you.

Alan Willaert, Local 149

The challenges facing Canadian musicians, and those of us who represent them, have increased exponentially over the last few years. Status quo is no longer an option, and we have therefore served notice to bargain on several large employers in the broadcast world. While this action will undoubtedly increase employment opportunities for members, the additional work involved is substantial. It has been my honour to serve as vice president from Canada, and I’m asking for the opportunity to continue, face those employers across the table, and finish what we started.

INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER

Jay Blumenthal, Local 802 (New York City)

Like so many of you, my 41 years of AFM membership has played a central role in my career as a professional musician. Every dollar the Federation receives to advance our mission is tied in some way to the work that you do as a professional musician. That’s why the spending of union funds must improve the lives and protect the livelihoods of our members. Creating a financially stable AFM while fighting for justice in the workplace, building solidarity, and educating our membership will ensure a stronger union for current and future members.

INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD

John Acosta, Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) President

It is with great humility that I announce my candidacy for the AFM International Executive Board. For over a decade it has been an honor to serve the amazing musicians of our great union. Together we have fought on the street and at the bargaining table, and on the IEB I will continue the fight for improved economic conditions and better standards for all AFM members. It is an honor to be part of President Hair’s “Team Unity,” the stabilizing force that has rebuilt our AFM. Music is our passion! Now let’s put the same passion into our union!

Joe Boettger, Local 542 (Flint, MI) President

Joe Boettger, President of Local 542, Flint, Michigan, intends to run for an executive board member seat on the International Executive Board. He will be a voice for post-industrial and small locals. He will listen to all Local leadership and advocate continually for them at the international level. He has a pragmatism and fortitude developed from surviving in one of the most hostile labor and human environments currently in the United States. Canadian artists often work in his jurisdiction and he will advocate equally for their concerns. AFM needs a person of this vision and understanding on the IEB now.

Tino Gagliardi, Local 802 President

Having been a part of a union that continues to transform itself through honest and open discussion about the challenges we face is rewarding and has benefited our union over the past six years. This collaborative, comprehensive model contributes to our standing at the bargaining table and continues to address the financial and organizational challenges we face. Working on behalf of all musicians, it is this administration that continues to foster and promote this environment. Please support the Unity Team so we may continue to improve the standards for our members and strengthen our union.

Tina Morrison, Local 105 (Spokane, WA) Vice President

Our union changed directions by electing this administration and then re-electing our team. Stabilization came first with much accomplished via a complex network of activities setting foundations for new relationships and future income streams for musicians in this global economy. We’ve faced many challenges together, however there is more to do. Certain paths became labyrinths but the goals set forth by our mission statement continue to guide us forward. I would appreciate your vote so we can continue the work of making our union inclusive and relevant to all working musicians.

Joe Parente, Local 77 (Philadelphia, PA) President

The last convention has given the Federation the tools to continue in the direction of improving the lives of all AFM members. The IEB has had to make difficult decisions in dealing with the problems we are all facing. With the confidence the last convention showed us, Team Unity will continue to represent our members in an effort to improve all of our lives as professional musicians. I am dedicated, as are all the Federation officers, to continuing to fight for the rights and welfare of all members of the AFM. I ask your support for re-election to the IEB.

Dave Pomeroy, Local 257 (Nashville, TN) President

It has been an honor to serve you as an IEB member for the past six years. I have been a working musician for nearly 40 years, and first got involved in AFM issues long ago because I saw a need for our union to “get real” and evolve with the times. It has not been easy, but the bottom line is that this team has made a real difference in how the AFM takes care of business for its members. We will always be stronger when we are united by our common goal of promoting respect for all musicians.  

George Troia, Jr., Local 5 (Detroit, MI) President

I, George Troia , Jr. announce my candidacy for a seat on the International Executive Board of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. I am grateful to have been blessed with a with a multi-faceted musical career over the past 50 years, full of experiences that I believe to be valuable to the direction of the Federation in this new century. My primary goal in union representation is, and will always be, making life better for musicians. I humbly ask you for your support in this endeavor.

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