Election 2024: Vote Union

October 23, 2024

Once again it is time to get out and vote. And it is as important a time as it has ever been for us musicians to get to the polls and make our voices heard.

As a Union officer, I consider that any endorsement or discussion of a candidate must be born out of a responsibility to determine which candidate will be the better choice to advocate for policy important to us, and who will serve to uplift our lives, workplaces and profession.

That being said, the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) has announced its enthusiastic endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for president in the 2024 election and thanked President Joe Biden for his dedication to public service and support for working people.

In support of this endorsement, I wanted to share with you some matters of policy which have made a difference to us here at Local 72-147, and which would help us to better represent musicians at the work place, if enacted. Success in these areas depend on who we elect to represent us.

Legislation Was Passed Protecting the AFM & Employers Pension Fund

For more than a decade we had been fighting an uphill battle to rehabilitate our pension fund after the Financial Crisis of 2008. Then in 2021 Congress passed the American Rescue Plan, which changed all that. This new legislation incorporated the Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act, which provided support for union pension plans like ours. Last August, the long awaited special financial assistance made possible by this act was received by the Fund, ensuring our members benefits for decades to come. For years, we had been suffering painfully divisive turmoil over the Fund’s problems, and this legislative solution seemed a political long shot. But due to the persistence our labor community and the legislators we elected to fight for us on the Hill, this long shot became a reality. It so happens that the tie breaking vote passing the bill was cast by Vice President Kamala Harris, and it was signed into law by President Joe Biden.

The National Labor Relations Board Was Retooled to Better Work For Us

Under the Biden administration, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) was retooled to support workers’ rights both in employment and collective bargaining. This change was particularly felt here in our local. Our case in point has to do with a dispute we were having with an orchestra that had locked out some of its musicians in retaliation for union activity. In March 2020, just days after the COVID-19 Pandemic shut down began, we had been awaiting a decision from the NLRB regarding this situation and received its decision at the end of that month. Unfortunately, we were directed to go back to the employer and file another grievance even though our complaints went far beyond what could reasonably be contained in a grievance. It was like responding to an attacking grizzly bear with a fly swatter. I could only conclude that the very agency in existence to enforce labor law and to safeguard our rights had let us down.

Then on January 20, 2021 – Inauguration Day –  President Joe Biden in one of his firsts acts in office, fired the Trump appointed NLRB general counsel (whose job it is to enforce the rights of employees and decide which cases the agency brings). Nine days later, we were notified by the NLRB that it would be filing a complaint with this company based on further complaints we had made the year before. It was breathtaking to see such a sudden change. In little more than a week the Agency moved from effectively enabling an abuser to, once again, doing its job.* On the outset Biden showed that he knew what was going on with the NLRB under the Trump administration and took immediate and bold measures to correct the situation, setting the stage for consistent support of labor throughout his term.

And incidentally, the NLRB announced this week that it would be issuing a complaint against the Dallas Black Dance Theatre for the firing of its dancers for unionizing. As we have been supporting these dancers in their pursuit of justice, it is a further demonstration that the NLRB is continuing to act in protection of the rights of those of us in the arts under the Biden Administration.

Support of the PRO Act

The Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act) has been introduced three times in Congress since 2019 and passed in the House twice (receiving bipartisan support) but has failed to make it to the floor in the Senate. This bill would be nothing less than a game changer for us. Among other things, it would give unions more power in “right to work” states (like ours), strengthen the ability of the NLRB to enforce its decisions – and perhaps most importantly for us – it would broaden the definition of employee status to include many gig workers. If passed, this could significantly increase the AFM’s ability to represent musicians in the workplace who work as freelancers, extending to us legal rights we have been denied for decades. Kamala Harris has announced that if elected president she would sign into law the PRO Act. Additionally, candidate for US Senate Colin Allred as a Representative to Congress has voted for the PRO Act, and continues his advocacy for it.

Time to Vote

The stories of success mentioned above began with voting for representatives who support our issues. The potential of further success also mentioned above depends on how we vote moving forward.

Vice President Harris in her role in the Biden Administration has helped in these efforts and has promised to continue the work. In addition, Congressman Colin Allred, now running for US Senate, has had as US Representative for District 32  a 100% voting record on labor issues (including support of the PRO Act).

Whatever your voting choices may be, please cast your votes as soon as possible, in celebration of this most sacred of our rights as citizens.


* Local 72-147 has continued to litigate this and other related matters since the dispute began. While still held up in appellate processes, we have prevailed with both the Unfair Labor Practice charges and the deferral to grievance and arbitration, with damages having been ordered to musicians. (I will soon more fully report on the matter as processes finally come to a close)