Supreme Court of Canada has ordered British Columbia to restore contract provisions that allow teachers to negotiate class size and composition. While BC Premier Christy Clark says the government has set aside Can $100 million in case the teachers won, the British Columbia Teachers Federation (BCTF) says it could cost as much as three times that per year to right the wrong. According to one report, currently 48 primary students would make up two classes, while with pre-2002 language (before the dispute) they would have been split among three or four classes. The teachers are currently working under a six-year agreement that ends in 2019, but includes a provision to reopen negotiations depending on the outcome of court cases related to class size and composition.
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.