A recently released AFL-CIO study showed that 4,836 workers died in 2015 after suffering workplace accidents and 150 workers died each day from hazardous working conditions. The study was compiled from 2015 injury and fatality data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and FY 2016 enforcement data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This is the 26th year the AFL-CIO has published Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, which usually comes out close to Workers Memorial Day, April 28—a day of remembrance to those who have suffered and died on the job and to renew the fight for safe jobs.
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Bill Changes Overtime Protections
Though the Working Families Flexibility Act has been touted as an attempt to provide employees with work flexibility, what it really does is provide employers additional flexibility in allowing them to compensate workers with paid time off (comp time) instead of overtime. The Republican backed measure was just passed by the House of Representatives and the Trump administration has come out in support of the bill in its current form. Democrats strongly oppose the bill because it gives employers final say in when comp time is used.
2017 Juno Award Winners
The Canadian Federation of Musicians and American Federation of Musicians congratulates all our members who were nominated for or won 2017 Juno Awards. The list of member 2017 Juno Award winners includes:
JUNO Fan Choice Award: Shawn Mendes of Local 145 (Vancouver, BC)
Album of the Year: You Want It Darker, Leonard Cohen former member of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA)
Artist of the Year: Leonard Cohen
Group of the Year: The Tragically Hip—Gord Downie, Paul Langlois, Rob Baker, Gord Sinclair, and Johnny Fay of Local 518 (Kingston, ON)
Songwriter of the Year: Gord Downie
Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Ruth B of Local 390 (Edmonton, AB)
Breakthrough Group of the Year: The Dirty Nil, Luke Bentham and Kyle Fisher of Local 293 (Hamilton, ON) and Ross Miller of Local 298 (Niagara Region, ON)
Alternative Album of the Year: Touch, July Talk, Peter Dreimanis, Leah Fay, Ian Docherty, Josh Warburton and Danny Miles of Local 149
Classical Album of the Year, Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment: Going Home Star—Truth and Reconciliation, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra of Local 190 (Winnipeg, MB)
Classical Album of the Year, Vocal or
Choral Performance: L’Aiglon, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal of Local 406
Adult Contemporary Album of the Year: Wonderland, Sarah McLachlan of Local 145
Canadian Music Hall of Fame: Sarah McLachlan
Allan Waters Humanitarian Award: Buffy Sainte-Marie of Local 802 (New York City)
Rally to Save the Arts in New York City
Members of Local 802 (New York City) joined other unions, including Actors Equity Association, for a Rally to Save the Arts in front of City Hall in New York City.
Local 802 President Tino Gagliardi was one of the speakers at the April Save the Arts Rally.
Hundreds of arts leaders, workers, and supporters turned out for a Rally to Save the Arts held April 3 in NewYork City.
Among the speakers at the New York City Rally to Save the Arts was Local 802
(New York City) member David Byrne, a founding member of the Talking Heads.
Young Artists Recognized by Yamaha’s YYPA Program
In April, Yamaha Artist Services Indianapolis and Yamaha Band & Orchestral Division named the winners of the 2017 Yamaha Young Performing Artists (YYPA) Competition. The musicians were selected on their technical skill and artistry as demonstrated in submitted audio and video auditions. Emphasizing Yamaha’s commitment to music education, the competition recognizes exceptional emerging musicians in the jazz, classical, and contemporary genres.
The 10 2017 YYPA Winners include: Victor Hernandez Ramirez of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (flute); He Zhang of Harbin, China (clarinet); Hannah Hickman of Sheldon, Iowa (classical saxophone); Howard Dietz of Morgan Hill, California (jazz saxophone); Michelle Hembree of Boise, Idaho (horn); Altin Sencalar of Temple, Texas (jazz trombone); Cameron Leach of Hilliard, Ohio (concert percussion); Stephen Morris of Aliso Viejo, California (drum set); Derek Louie of New York, New York (cello); and Nathan Ben-Yehuda of Los Angeles, California (piano).
Winners receive an all-expense-paid trip to the YYPA Celebration Weekend June 24-27, during the Music for All Summer Symposium, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, June 24-July 1. There, they will perform at a YYPA Concert and participate in workshops to help them toward their professional careers. Other privileges include services and support from Yamaha Artist Relations and professional recordings, as well as photography, of their live performance.
This year’s YYPA Guest Artist is Yamaha Performing Artist and principal timpanist of the National Symphony Orchestra Jauvon Gilliam of Local 161-710 (Washington, DC). He will give a special solo performance during the concert. In previous years, featured guest artists included three-time Grammy Award winner Jeff Coffin of Local 257 (Nashville, TN), saxophonist for the Dave Matthews Band.
More than 250 talented musicians who have been recognized since the program’s inception. Many of them have already established successful music careers, as performers and educators, including Ricardo Morales, principal clarinet of the Philadelphia Orchestra, a member of Local 77 (Philadelphia, PA).
Glen Campbell Releases Goodbye Album
On June 9 legendary singer and guitarist Glen Campbell of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) releases his final album, Adiós. In a career spanning five decades, he has sold more than 50 million albums. The album was recorded following Campbell’s Goodbye Tour launched following his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in 2011.
Glen’s wife, Kim, felt a sense of urgency following the tour. She wanted to get him into the studio one last time to capture what magic was left. “What you’re hearing when listening to Adiós is the beautiful and loving culmination of friends and family doing their very best for a man who inspired, raised, and entertained them for decades—giving him the chance to say goodbye to his fans, and put one last amazing collection of songs onto the record store shelves.”
The family turned to Local 256-733 (Birmingham, AL) member Carl Jackson. Campbell’s longtime banjo player produced, performed on the album, and helped his friend. The 12 tracks on the album feature songs that Campbell loved but never before recorded. Though he struggled at times, Campbell was elated to be in the studio.
Campbell, 81, is reported to be in the final stages of the disease. He is living in Nashville, surrounded by friends and family.
SAG-AFTRA Demands SBS Recognize Union
SAG-AFTRA is demanding that the Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) recognize the union as the legally certified bargaining representative for workers at two popular Los Angeles radio stations—La Raza (KLAX/KXOL 97.9 FM) and MEGA (96.3 FM). The on-air talent voted overwhelmingly to join SAG-AFTRA last August, but SBS has refused to bargain in good faith and also retaliated against its on-air talent.
SBS employees chose to organize after enduring poor working conditions that in some cases violated stage and federal laws. Complaints include, among other things: payment of less than minimum wage, plus denying overtime pay, breaks, and access to bathrooms during events.
Beyond the Red Carpet Demonstrates Importance of Intellectual Property Protections
In April Creative Rights Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Rudy Chu (D-CA) and Doug Collins (R-GA) hosted “Beyond the Red Carpet: Movie & TV Magic Day” to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the creativity, talent, and innovation of the television and film industry that supports two million workers in all 50 states. Chu says she founded the Creative Rights Caucus to give creators a voice in Washington, DC. The event was designed to demonstrate the need to have strong intellectual property protections in the US.
“It is inspiring to see the tremendous innovation of our industry and to understand the positive impact that copyright protections have on those in front of and behind the camera,” says SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris.
Savannah Exhibit Honors Musicians Union Leader
A new exhibit that opened in April in Savannah, Georgia, honors Westley Wallace “W.W.” Law, a prominent Civil Right leader, historian, community leader, and the founder of Savannah’s black musicians union (AFM Local 704). He was known for his large and diverse collection of music. Through the exhibit at the Beach Institute African American Cultural Center, the city hopes to encourage people to discover music they are not familiar with. The exhibit will feature Law’s music, book, periodical, and photograph collections. Interactive components will introduce children to math and science concepts embedded in music.
Letter to Congress Calls for NEA, NEH, CPB Funding
The AFM joined 11 other arts and entertainment groups in sending a letter to Congress opposing President Trump’s elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the privatization of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The letter urges Congress to at least maintain current funding for the institutions. It reads, in part:
Ending federal support for the NEA, NEH, and CPB would be radical, unprecedented action that would harm everyday people, particularly individuals who live far from metropolitcan cultural centers. Through grants, seed money, and technical support, the NEA, NEH, and CPB ensure that Americans of all means, geographies, and abilities have access to artistic and educational content. Private money cannot fully replace lost funding from the NEA, NEH, and CPB. Without continued funding for the NEA, NEH, and CPB, we expect the loss of good, middle-class jobs, with the most acute economic pain being felt far from the soundstages of Hollywood and bright lights of Broadway.
Among those joining AFM President Ray Hair in signing the letter were: Actors’ Equity Association President Kate Shindle; AFL-CIO Department of Professional Employees President Paul E. Almeida; International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees President Matthew D. Loeb; SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris; and Writers Guild of America, East President Michael Winship.