Why do I need a Musician's Union?

Union (yōōn' yen) n. 1. A combining, joining, or grouping together for mutual benefit.

Who Joins Unions?

Union members come from all walks of life, and include such professionals as:

  • Actors
  • Athletes

  • Construction Workers

  • Electricians

  • Health Care Workers

  • News Broadcasters

  • Teachers

Notable musicians who are AFM members include Emilio Estefan, Arturo Sandoval, Bela Fleck, Itzhak Perlman, the Canadian Brass, and Barenaked Ladies. Locally, members of the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra, theater musicians, and recording artists on commercial and film soundtracks and on CD's of artists such as Michael Jackson and Shakira are all Union members.

Where Did Unions Come From?

In the 1700's there were no professional musicians; most made a living by being a jack-of-all-trades. By the late 1800's musicians united in mutual aid societies to improve their professional lives by setting scales, communicating across the country by newsletter, and protesting competition from the military and foreign touring groups. The AFM was chartered in 1896 and currently has over 100,000 members in over 250 Locals in the U.S. and Canada. South Florida Musicians Association has been around since 1913.

Unionism is Economic Democracy

Unions are about creating community and promoting dignity and respect. Musicians have common interests and goals, and the AFM seeks to promote these through collective action.

South Florida Musicians Association provides a focal point around which musicians establish wages scales, network with other players, and promote the "business" of music. We are dedicated to the preservation and health of the music profession. We provide employment representation (contracts with local organizations, all of the major recording labels, and events throughout south Florida) as well as support services such as marketing, career advice, referrals and bookings, and access to liability and instrument insurance and a pension plan.

The AFM also provides political representation on behalf of musicians' interests in such areas as:

  • Airline carry-on luggage (specifically, instrument cases)

  • Copyright and Royalty issues

  • Anti-piracy issues

  • Media Consolidation

  • Immigration issues

What Do Unions Do?

Protect from exploitation by doing as a group what you can't accomplish alone

  • Provide an equal voice in employer-dominated workplace.

  • Influence working conditions through collective action.

  • Fight to maintain Musicians' professional status

Through unions, job improvements have resulted in better artistic standards and higher productivity, because musicians often have first-hand knowledge of how best to accomplish a task and are an employer's greatest resource.

Services the AFM Provides

  • Career Guidance

  • Bargaining Assistance

  • Political Representation

  • Profit-sharing from record sales (Special Payment Fund)

  • Pension Plan

  • Health, Liability, Instrument Insurance

  • Freelance, symphony, and recording contracts and contract enforcement

  • Musician/ music teacher referrals

  • Marketing through Web site listing and presence at trade shows

  • MPF gig co-funding

  • List of local contractors

  • Local and National minimum wage scales

  • Music-related discounts

The AFM also bargains collectively for all members involved in network radio and TV, videotape, educational TV, music videos, theatrical motion pictures, TV films, and other electronic recording.

More reasons to join...click here.

© 2007 South Florida Musicians Association     Site Map     Links     Webmaster     RSS