Musicians of the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra have ratified a two year successor agreement with the WFSO. After years of depending on single engagement contracts to engage Local 72-147 members to perform with the WFSO, the Union entered into a full one-year collective bargaining agreement representing all orchestra member
Read moreThe Musicians of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra ratified a successor agreement with ETSO Management for a one year extension to the Master agreement which expired last May, including a wage increase and a few modifications.
Read moreThis summer the Musicians of Casa Manana ratified a three year successor collective bargaining agreement with Local 72-147 with improved wages and conditions pertaining to hiring. A fundamental element of this agreement is an updated hiring list. In negotiating this new list, attention was made to hiring history and seniority so to
Read moreThe Fund’s board of trustees recently appointed Brad C. Eggen, president of Local 30-73 (Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN) to act as the Retiree Representative, a position created by the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act (MPRA). His role is to apply the statutory list of equitable factors in the best interests of the retirees and present his viewpoint to the Fund trustees and the US Department of the Treasury. He will provide an independent
Read moreAs one of the delegates at the AFM Convention this year, I was appointed to serve on the Finance Committee. In this role I participated in the process by which the various recommendations and resolutions are introduced to the floor of the convention. At the committee level, we hear testimony from proponents and opponents, if they choose to be heard. We discuss and prepare a recommendation on the proposed legislation for the moment when it is brought to the floor.
Read moreThe theme of the Convention was “Together We Can” and presentation after presentation brought focus to the larger effort necessary to address solutions for today’s difficulties. From facing the challenges of maintaining a balanced budget for the federation, to keeping pace with changing technologies shaping the livelihoods of musicians, and (of course) to putting our Pension Fund back on course to solvency.
Read moreIn late May, the actuaries of the AFM-EPF advised that the Fund is entering “critical and declining” status, which means the Fund is projected to run out of money to pay benefits within 20 years. This has occurred because of the combination of investment losses during the Great Recession and rising benefit payments that increasingly exceed contributions.
Read moreReport Submitted by Aaron Pino
This past June we had both the annual Southern Conference of Locals, and the triennial AFM Convention. During the Convention years, the Southern Conference meets in Las Vegas in the same hotel as the Convention, the weekend prior. President Williams, as the Vice President of the Southern Conference, was seated at the dais and served on the Agenda Committee. Alternate Delegate and former President of our Local, Ken Krause, served as the chair of the Bylaw Committee, and I again served as the chair of the Finance Committee. During the conference, we had presentations from the International officers, as well as a panel from the AFM-EP fund trustees. There was also a presentation from the Organizing Dept. on building locals. Alfonso Pollard, the AFM’s Legislative and Political Director, gave a presentation on TEMPO and how to form a local legislative political committee, something we would like to put together in this local in the near future. If you are interested in serving on such a committee, let me know.
The biggest news for our local from the conference is that President Williams is now also the President of the Southern Conference, and therefore our local will be hosting the 2020 Southern Conference in June at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel in Addison. The new Vice-President of the Conference is Megan Chisom, who is the President of Local 80, Chattanooga. Lovie Smith-Wright, the President of Local 65-699 Houston, was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer.
Alternate Diversity Delegate Fred Nichelson joined us for the AFM Convention, and International President Ray Hair gave all four of us committee assignments. President Williams again served
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In times of hardship, the solidarity of our union is there to provide help. Secretary-Treasurer Aaron Pino explains some of the ways. Bill Collins Benefit Fund, the AFM’s Lester Petrillo Memorial Fund. Also, the AFM partners with The Musicians Foundation as well as MusicCares.
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Growing from the relationship between Local 72-147, Klyde Warren Park and the support of Music Performance Trust Fund, many new things are happening in downtown Dallas. On March 28 Local 72-147 presented its first ever “Musicians in the Park” Community Performance.
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