Featured – Page 12

Resolution No. 8 at the Convention Report by Stewart Williams

October 13, 2019December 9, 2019 Stewart Williams 8 Views

As 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.

Pension News

Seeking Solutions: More Revenue for the Fund aka STREAMING

October 13, 2019December 9, 2019 Stewart Williams 11 Views

The 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.

Pension News

The Fund Enters Critical & Declining Status

October 13, 2019December 9, 2019 Stewart Williams 14 Views

In 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.

Featured

101st Convention Report

October 13, 2019October 29, 2019 Aaron Pino 10 Views

Report 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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Union & Partners Provide Help in Times of Hardship

April 1, 2019April 3, 2019 admin 11 Views

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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MUSICIANS IN THE PARK A GREAT SUCCESS

April 1, 2019April 3, 2019 admin 7 Views

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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Musicians Call on Studios to Negotiate Streaming Media

March 30, 2019April 3, 2019 admin 9 Views

“As streaming consumption grows, the absence of streaming residuals will prevent musicians from being able to afford a home and feed their families, and threatens to erode the major contributions our members make to our local communities,” said Ray Hair, AFM International President. “AFM members must take on the changes in technology by ensuring that we maintain good jobs and a rightful place in the future of the industry. We are seeking a productive dialogue with AMPTP as we work to reach a fair resolution of these negotiations.” –Ray Hair, AFM International President

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Congress Turns Attention Back to Multiemployer Pension Crisis

March 30, 2019April 1, 2019 admin 12 Views

On Thursday, March 7, the House Subcommittee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing titled, “The Cost of Inaction: Why Congress Must Address the Multiemployer Pension Crisis.” This was the first Congressional hearing of 2019 to focus entirely on the crisis.

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Remembering DFW’s Black Locals

February 28, 2019February 28, 2019 admin 13 Views

Fort Worth Local 392 & Dallas Local 168

Local 72-147 has a proud history of representing musicians since the chartering of Local 72 in Fort Worth in 1898 and Local 147 in Dallas in 1901. But before 1965, black musicians fighting the discrimination of segregation formed AFM locals on their own. This is the story of these musicians during their years of organizing with AFM Local 392 in Fort Worth and Local 168 in Dallas.

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Reaching Out to Denton/UNT Community with Jam Session on April 25

February 28, 2019February 28, 2019 admin 7 Views

Following up on last September’s successful collaboration with the Greater Denton Arts Council, Local 72-147 has scheduled another Jam Session + Meet and Greet at the Patterson Appleton Arts Center on April 25. A special purpose of the event is to reach out to musicians studying at the University of North Texas and introduce the resources, education and organizing that AFM provides for professional musicians. Still under development, this event serves to collaborate with the Greater Denton Arts Council to brings arts and education to Denton and a special educational opportunity to students at one our nation’s largest music schools.