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.

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Home » Recent News » New Agreement reached with Motion Picture TV Film Industries


New Agreement reached with Motion Picture TV Film Industries

  -  AFM International President

I am pleased to report that agreement was reached with representatives from the Television and Motion Picture Industries late Friday evening, January 9, 2015 in Los Angeles, for successor Motion Picture and Television Film Labor Agreements and Secondary Markets Fund Agreements. The agreements cover the employment of professional musicians, arrangers, copyists, leaders, conductors and sideline musicians engaged by signatory producers to perform services in theatrical and television film production in the United States and Canada.

The new agreement will extend three years from the date of ratification to April, 2018, approximately. Progressive economic features include across the board wage increases of 2% per year for all classifications of employment. In addition, Wage and benefit payments for sideline musicians engaged in High Budget Video On Demand Productions will rise to existing standards found in the Agreements. Also, up to four minutes of clip use is now permitted under the new agreements for use in films produced abroad.  Payments were increased by 33% for 30 second clip use increments in excess of two minutes.

I’d like to thank our outstanding team of Federation and Local Officers, rank and file representatives and legal counsel  who persevered through numerous difficult rounds of negotiations spanning two years from the outset of bargaining, which began in November, 2012.

I will have further details about this development in my column in the February edition of the International Musician.







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