South Florida Musicians Association

Elections for Vacant Office of Director

Thu, 1 May 2008 00:07:00 -0100

Due to the resignation of Steve Roitstein, elections for the office of Director will be conducted at a Membership Meeting to be held on May 28, 2008 at 10:30 AM at the Local 655 Offices. Nominations will be taken from the floor, followed by a vote. The newly elected Director will take office at the conclusion of the meeting. If you are interested in being nominated you must be present or provide a written statement accepting the nomination prior to the meeting.

PBO Orchestra Selects New Members

Thu, 1 May 2008 00:06:00 -0100

As a result of auditions held on April 28-29, 2008, the following musicians will be joining the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra:

Danut Muresan, Violin 1, 10th chair
David Peel, Principal Horn

Congratulations!

Special Payments Fund Has Money for Musicians

Thu, 1 May 2008 00:05:00 -0100

The Sound Recording Special Payments Fund has unclaimed funds for musicians whom the Fund has been unable to contact. If you know any of the musicians below, please have them contact the fund at http://www.sound-recording.org/index.html or (866) 711-FUND (3863) and provide their current mailing address.

Allen, Christofe
Asheton, Scott R
Austin, Michael C
Carrabba, Christopher
Castillo, Tony
Dyer, Dan
Eaddy III, John
Golding, Conrad
Halay, Kristen
Jackson, Derek
Khaled, Khaled M
Laurencio, Anthony
Lefler, John C
Marland, Ollie
Mendez, Lester A
Merchant, John Holt
Mora, Juan
Oster, Timothy J
Sanchez, Fernando

Making South Florida A Better Place

Thu, 1 May 2008 00:04:00 -0100

The musicians of Florida Grand Opera are fighting for Union representation, and while many members of the community have voiced their support, others who do not perform for Florida Grand Opera may be wondering, why should I care?

This campaign is much bigger than just Florida Grand Opera. It is an opportunity to shape our community for the better. The way Florida Grand Opera treats its musicians hurts not just those musicians, but the entire community. FGO is the largest employer of musicians in south Florida, and perhaps the largest performing arts organization in Florida. Yet when they see an opportunity to cash in by denying that the musicians are their employees, they take it. They avoid having to pay workers' compensation, unemployment, and social security taxes. Instead, they put those burdens on the employees' backs. And if the largest employer can get away with it, why should any of the other organizations in town be any different?

This happens because we let it.

A Union is not a business, and unionism is not the result of entrepreneurship. A Union is people...members that unite to gain control over their lives and pool their strength to fight unfair treatment and exploitation. We have the power to stop misclassification, to demand that employers take responsibility and treat us fairly. We have only to stand together and ask.

Our community is what we make of it...and we should expect better. Florida Grand Opera can be just the first step on a journey to a secure, professional musical community for all of south Florida. We have only to stand together and ask.

That Union Thing

Thu, 1 May 2008 00:02:00 -0100

AFSCME Wins Food Service Outsourcing Fight at University of California–Davis

After a four year fight, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) has won their final battle to end outsourcing of food service work at the University of California system. The 200 subcontracted employees at UC-Davis will now become direct employees of the University system. 900-1000 workers at other UC campuses have already been reclassified as UC employees.

As at-will employees—meaning they can be laid off for nearly any reason the employer chooses—the subcontracted workers were subject to fear of retaliation and intimidation when standing up for basic rights such as a voice on the job, fair wages, affordable health care and justice in their workplaces. Much time was also wasted on training an ever-rotating workforce rather than providing services to students. It is expected that having status as employees of the University system, represented by AFSCME, will reduce turnover.

SAG and AFTRA Begin Negotiations

The Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have begun negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The current contract is set to expire on June 30. It is expected that the issues to be negotiated will be similar to those recently negotiated by the Writers Guild, including DVD residuals and compensation for digital distribution.

Actors Equity and Broadway League Begin Negotiations

Negotiations have begun for and agreement to succeed the current Broadway agreement, which expires on June 29. One of the subjects of negotiation will be the experimental tiered touring program introduced in 2004.