Tag Archives: news

Assistance for Union Plus Storm Victims

June 8, 2015 IM

Union members who participate in Union Plus programs (credit cards, insurance, mortgages, etc.) and live in areas impacted by the recent severe storms and widespread flooding in Texas and Oklahoma, may be eligible for financial assistance. Disaster Relief Grants of $500 are available to help participants who live in Harris, Hays, and Van Zandt counties in Texas, and Cleveland, Grady, and Oklahoma counties in Oklahoma and are facing financial hardship due to this devastating natural disaster. The money does not have to be repaid.

To qualify for a Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant, a union member must:

Have been a victim of the severe weather in counties designated by FEMA as qualifying for individual assistance.
Have experienced a significant loss of income or property within the last six months due to the disaster.
Have had a Union Plus Credit Card, Union Plus Insurance policy, or Union Plus Mortgage for at least 12 months with the account or policy in good standing (be up-to-date on payments).
Describe his or her circumstances and document the income or property loss.

To apply for a disaster relief grant, Union Plus participants can call: 1-800-622-2580 (Union Plus Credit Card) or 1-800-472-2005 (Union Plus mortgage or insurance: 1-800-472-2005).

Union Plus Mortgage and Credit Card holders may also be eligible to receive payment extensions or other special help.

Recent News

Loretta Lynn Inducted in Walk of Fame

June 8, 2015 IM

photo credit: Ann Richardson

On June 4, longtime Local 257 (Nashville, TN) AFM member Loretta Lynn was inducted in the Music City Walk of Fame. The induction ceremony coincided with a ribbon cutting for the recently renovated Walk of Fame Park in the center of Nashville, near to the Country Music Hall of Fame. The Walk of Fame recognizes persons from all genres of music who have made significant contributions to preserving the musical heritage of Nashville.

Recent News

Apple to Announce Streaming Service Today

June 8, 2015 IM

According to AppleInsider Apple’s new streaming music service, Apple Music, will likely be announced at a Worldwide Developer’s Conference today. Based on Beats Music it will ask users for their favorite genres when they sign up, and then would include artist recommendations. As of last week, Apple was reported to still be negotiating fees with record labels, which are reported to be asking for a higher percentage of subscriptions than what they currently receive from Spotify.

Recent News

National Call-In Day to Stop Fast Track

June 4, 2015 IM

The AFL-CIO has declared today National Call-In Day to Stop Fast Track. Now that Congress is back from vacation, it’s expected to bring Fast Track to a vote any day now. Many elected officials can still be swayed by reminding them of what the voters want. Do your part to prevent the passage of bad trade deals. Visit the website https://actionnetwork.org/forms/tell-your-representative-vote-no-on-fast-track or call 1-855-712-8441.

Recent News

Working Families Blocked from Reading TPP Text

June 3, 2015 IM

On June 2, working families, labor leaders, members of Congress, and community allies gathered at the AFL-CIO headquarters, behind the White House, and unveiled a giant banner with two simple requests: “show us the text” and “show us the jobs.” If TPP is in fact the “most progressive trade deal in history,” which will lead to the creation of 700,000 jobs, why aren’t Americans being allowed to read it? After the unveiling, rally attendees marched to the US Trade Representatives office to ask to read the text. The normally open door was locked and when the workers knocked there was no answer. The workers promised a mass calling of Congress on June 2. Do your part and tell Congress to stop Fast Track and the bargaining of trade deals behind closed doors.

Recent News

USPS/APWU Reach Impass

June 2, 2015 IM

The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) and USPS failed to reach an agreement before the expiration of the current contract in May. According to an APWU news bulletin the USPS is insisting on severe cuts in pay and benefits, though progress has been made on many non-economic issues. “Management’s economic demands and proposed changes to the workforce structure were completely unacceptable,” says APWU President Mark Dimondstein.

Among the Postal Service proposals are:

eliminate of current cost-of-living adjustments.
Increased employee contribution to healthcare.
Permanent lower payscale for future career employees with reduced benefits.
Increased percentage of noncareer employees.
Weakened layoff protection.

APWU proposals include fair and reasonable wage increases, limits on subcontracting, more career jobs, improvements for Postal Support Employees, limits on excessing, and better service for our customers, explains Dimondstein. The talks will now go to mediation.

Orchestra News

Houston Symphony Creates New Orchestra Positions

June 2, 2015 IM

Houston Symphony plans to hire four new full-time string players, whose primary role will be education and community engagement. These musicians will perform 25 concerts per year with the symphony, but mainly they will work outside the concert hall, in neighborhood schools, community centers, and healthcare facilities.

Due to their direct engagement with Houston’s diverse populations, potential candidates must be bilingual. The initiative is part of Houston Symphony’s 10-year strategic plan to expand its reach and relevance in its community

Orchestra News

Cincinnati Symphony Ratified New Contract

June 2, 2015 IM

On May 6, the musicians of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra ratified a new five-year agreement during an endowment drive that has achieved a $26 million increase in the past year. The contract provides 1.5% salary gains in each season, in addition to the restoration of 14 of 23 permanent musician vacancies. A one-time income supplement of 12% to all current tenure track musicians creates a compensation package of 3% over the life of the deal.

This is a major step forward for an orchestra that saw a drop in endowment value from $92.7 million during 2000 to $56 million during the financial upheaval of 2008. Musician concessions in 2009 and a contract extension in 2011, along with new and prudent board financial practices, provided a path to this agreement. The original goal of $20 million for the endowment was exceeded by $6 million, establishing full funding of the salary increases and restored vacancies, plus a future reduction in annual endowment draw from 5% to 4.5%.

As the institution faces the challenges of a $125 million renovation of Music Hall during 2016-17, the new labor agreement provides financial stability and eliminates the last of a structural deficit by the 125th anniversary season of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 2020.

Orchestra News

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Provides Music in Wake of Riots

June 2, 2015 IM

On April 29, as Baltimore was reeling from riots gripping the city, musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) gathered to do what they do best: play music.

The idea for a gathering of musicians came to BSO oboist Michael Lisicky of Local 40-543 (Baltimore, MD) while he was sitting in a coffee shop the day after the riots broke out. Everything fell into place in less than 24 hours. “Originally I envisioned some unannounced chamber music outside the hall to whoever was around,” he says. “I didn’t want to call it a ‘performance’ because it wasn’t about us. The city was very damaged, emotionally and physically.”

Lisicky pitched the idea to his fellow musicians and many quickly came on board, agreeing to donate their time. BSO management joined in the effort, arranging logistical details, preparing sheet music, and working on publicity for the impromptu musical offering.

The next day at noon, the BSO musicians played the National Anthem, and Baltimore’s city anthem, Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks, Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3, and the finale from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 conducted by Music Director and Local 802 (New York City) member Marin Alsop, outside of Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. A crowd of 1,000 people joined to listen, including media outlets from around the world.

The music uplifted spirits and demonstrated the power and purpose that a symphony orchestra can provide during times of struggle. “It blossomed into a great thing,” says Lisicky. “Playing Bach and Beethoven was what we could do, and it worked. It showed that we are part of the community, and it showed that we are professionals.”

BSO’s scheduled education concert took place the day after the gathering. While the hall was mostly empty due to safety concerns, the music was streamed live into classrooms under the terms of the Integrated Media Agreement.

Orchestra News

Community Connection Is Key to Rebirth of DSO

June 2, 2015 IM

In the fall of 2010, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) experienced a devastating six-month strike. Following its settlement the orchestra quickly put the bad times behind it and set to work on a remarkable comeback. Its latest three-year contract was settled in January 2014—eight months ahead of the expiration date.

“The strike, of course, was very painful for the musicians. It resulted in considerable sacrifice,” says Local 5 (Detroit, MI) President George Troia, Jr. “But we prefer to look forward; that is the spirit with which we concluded our negotiations last year, and that is the spirit with which we work with the DSO every day.”

“The musicians of the orchestra are grateful for the steadfast support of Local 5 throughout the negotiations,” says Ken Thompkins, DSO principal trombone and orchestra committee member. “We were ever mindful of our primary goal, which was to craft an agreement that retains and attracts the finest musicians. Our solidarity and shared values of honesty and mutual respect guided us toward a successful conclusion.”

Much of the orchestra’s recovery can be credited to taking a long hard look at its community, and connecting with it. DSO now plays a leading role in the overall regeneration of the City of Detroit.

The orchestra’s performances reach more than 400,000 people a year—more than any other American orchestra, and its subscriptions have grown 24.7% since 2011. Key to its community/global connection is its live, weekly webcast series. Other initiatives include: more extra services per year; a concert series with “patron-minded prices” that has brought the orchestra to seven neighborhoods; wellness music therapy performances; and a dedicated education program that serves more than 20,000 children.

On the fundraising side, the number of people who donated to the orchestra has grown. Those individual donors gave a total of $5.4 million. Market appreciation and new gifts raised the endowment by $10 million, to $38.6 million.