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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Tag Archives: nlrb

Officer Columns, Recent News, Secretary-Treasurer

AFM International Executive Board Votes to Endorse Biden for President

August 28, 2020 Jay Blumenthal

On Friday, August 7, the AFM International Executive Board (IEB) met by Zoom meeting to discuss the possibility of endorsing a candidate in the upcoming US presidential election. All IEB members were present for the meeting.

The IEB is very much aware that we have a diverse membership that has views that cover a wide political spectrum. Any endorsement of a presidential candidate is bound to be controversial with a portion of our membership.

As labor leaders, it our responsibility to share with the membership which candidate we feel will be the better choice regarding labor issues. Who will be the candidate most likely to support working men and women and the ideals of the labor movement? Who will be the candidate most likely to make appointments to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that will hopefully result in increased NLRB decisions favorable to musicians? (Presidential appointments to the NLRB must be confirmed by the US Senate.) Who will be the candidate most likely to restore the fairness of the original social contract that served working men and women so well contributing to the creation of a robust middle class rather than the current failing low wage/low prices contract that has forced so many families into poverty? Who will be the best candidate to lead us through the pandemic crisis that has devastated musicians’ ability to go to work and make a living?

For these and other reasons, the IEB voted unanimously to endorse the Democratic candidate Joe Biden.

NLRB to Rule on Postal Services at Staples Stores

July 17, 2015 IM

In August the National Labor Relations Board will rule whether the Postal Service violated its collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) by outsourcing post office services to Staples stores. Typically, Staples’ employees earn about one-third as much as the average post office employee. APWU contends that the Postal Service violated the CBA by illegally subcontracting the work without negotiating with the union.