| Author |
Subject |
Beta79
Registered
User
(9/2/00 6:12:53 am)
Reply |
Advice
for prospective union member?
Would someone here have any advice
for a cellist who is considering joining the American Federation of
Musicians? Also, would transporting my fine cello to multiple gigs
in less-than-ideal climates, such as extreme cold etc. put alot of
strain and tear on it? Thanks for any input.
Chris
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sarah
schenkman
Registered User
(9/2/00 8:09:52 am)
Reply |
Topic:
Advice for prospective union member
Joining the AFofM is good. If you're
going to play in a professional orchestra you need to be in the
uion.
As long as you have a good cello case it should be okay - I
take my best cello to all kinds of gigs, but have a junky cello for
playing outdoors.
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PatWhite
Registered User
(9/12/00 3:30:34 pm)
Reply |
Re:
Advice for prospective union member?
I consider the Musicians Union to be
a necessary evil of our profession. Most orchestras require
membership, so you can't escape it if you want to play. However, I
consider the Union to be unable to serve any appreciable purpose in
the life of a freelance classical musician. I really resent that I
am required to be a member and pay the dues. Perhaps my attitude is
a result of the fact we have a very poorly organized local here.
Anyone want to chime in with a viewpoint that might change my
perspective?
|
Victor
Sazer
Registered
User
(9/12/00 8:10:15 pm)
Reply |
Advice
for prospective union member?
You may consider the union an evil,
but did you ever think about how your professional life might be
without it?
1. You might be
competing with the lowest bidder for every freelance job or have to
give kickbacks for work? This was the reality before the
union.
2. You could be abused,
forced to play overtime without compensation, do without
intermissions, etc. These were common practices before the
union.
3. At your stage of life,
you may not be looking very far ahead, but as the clock turns, we
all get older. Do you think that employers would voluntarily
contribute to your pension fund?.
Just a few of the things
that the union negotiates on behalf of musicians are pay scales,
working conditions and pension contributions. Are these not
appreciable purposes? Do these not contribute to your dignity and
well-being as a professional musician? Many sacrificed dearly to
form a union that would set standards and protect professional
musicians from abuse.
At times, a union may not be as
responsive as you might wish, but even at its worst, would you be
better off without it? If your local is poorly organized, perhaps
you and your colleagues might consider participating in union
affairs to strengthen it. No union is stronger than its members make
it.
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cellochris99
Registered User
(9/12/00 10:28:30 pm)
Reply |
Re:
Advice for prospective union member?
Thanks for the advice. The local
union here in Atlanta seems to have a pretty good insurance package
at least. I figured that I could get more gigs through the union
than on my own.
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PatWhite
Registered User
(9/13/00 9:49:02 am)
Reply |
Re:
Advice for prospective union member?
I do have to laugh whenver our local
union sends us notice that our dues are due. They try to bully us
into paying by threatening that we might lose out on our $1,000
death benefit if we do not keep our membership in good standing.
That is QUITE an incentive to pay!
Every time I send in my
check for my union dues, I include a little note asking the union to
be sure to inform me of work that they have for me...ha ha!
I
guess I am supposed to report every gig I get to the Union so that I
can pay them some dues for the privilege of working in their
jurisdiction. Ostensibly, some of that money gets put aside by them
for my pension? Hmmm, wonder how much that would add up over the
years? Wouldn't it be better for me to save my own pension money? I
have never heard of any pension in my name from the Union. It would
most likely be slim pickings anyway. If there is such a thing,
shouldn't they be informing me?
As a freelancer, I spell out
the overtime situation and the break situation with my clients. The
union doesn't help me there. I also negotiate my own pay and working
conditions. And, speaking of KICKBACKS, that's what I consider WORK
DUES for Union jobs. They want to put their fingers in my pocket and
take their cut. That's a kickback!
So, obviously, I am as
prejudiced against the union as some are for. Especially our union.
I grew up with an electrician for a father and I noticed greatly the
presence, organization and benefits his union afforded him. I
believe the musicians union is a joke in comparison. Of course, my
dad's dues were very much more than are mine. I do believe I would
not begrudge the dues were the benefits of membership more
palpable.
Patricia White
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zambocello
Registered User
(9/13/00 12:55:58 pm)
Reply |
unions
Your gripes about the union are
understandable and justifiable, but I too believe that, overall, the
union is an asset to working musicians.
Unions lead the way
in establishing the highest practical pay scales and best working
conditions. Even non-union and below scale workers benefit from the
union's activities.
The American Federation of Musicians
Employee Pension (AFM-EP) plan IS a good deal, if you are working
enough to become vested. Your work dues don't contribute to the
pension fund. You would have to negotiate an additional percentage
on your contracts. Some locals now require it on almost all
gigs.
When you are contracting your own gigs you set your
own limits and if the buyer doesn't like it you just don't have a
deal. But when you go to play in an orchestra or a gig for someone
else the pay, breaks, and time limits are as good as they are (LOL)
because of the union.
There may be those unfortunate locals
that have a problem with their ability to perform their duties
and/or their intentions towards the membership. I believe (or at
least hope) that in those locals where the union seems unhelpful or
unable that greater involvement is the answer, even though the
union's own traits are
alienating.
Anyway.................Cheers!
Zambo
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