The 2010 AFM Convention: An ICSOM Call to Action
As the triennial convention of the American Federation of Musicians approaches (June 21-25 in Las Vegas), the ICSOM Governing Board and orchestral musicians across the country have been awaiting the recommendations and resolutions to be considered by the delegates from our AFM locals. There are many issues of concern for musicians from ICSOM orchestras, but we are especially concerned about several recommendations for bylaw changes proposed by the AFM International Executive Board (IEB). All of these proposals are available in the May 2010 issue of the International Musician (page 31).
Recommendation #24 from the IEB proposes that $10,000 per year be available to the AFM President, the Vice-President from Canada, and the Secretary/Treasurer (each). This money would come from your dues to the AFM, and would be in addition to salary and travel expenses. But the disturbing aspect of this proposal is that this money would be “for the spending of which he/she shall not be required to make an accounting.”
In other words, the AFM President and the IEB are proposing that they be allowed to raise your dues, take more of it for themselves, and you do not have the right to know how they spend your money. This $10,000 per officer per year actually totals $90,000 over the three-year convention cycle.
This insensitive proposal from your union’s leadership comes at a time of economic crisis for our orchestras, and at a time when many musicians have had their salaries reduced.
Further, at a time of concern over the AFM-Employers’ Pension Fund (AFM-EPF), another Recommendation from the IEB (#2) proposes that the number of rank and file trustees be reduced from three to two. This proposal would surely cause even greater consternation over the AFM-EPF from the AFM’s members, and it arrives at a time when the plan needs more oversight than ever, not less. The fund has entered the critical zone and the multiplier is reduced to a single dollar, with no improvement in sight. We must not allow the IEB to erode the oversight of the rank and file on our troubled pension fund. The appointment of fund trustees should not be politicized.
It was just a few years ago when we won the battle to increase the number of rank and file trustees, and now the IEB wants to turn back time. (We encourage all AFM-EPF participants to study the information on the Fund available at www.freeerisa.com)
The Governing Board of ICSOM finds these recommendations for bylaw changes to be unacceptable and insulting to the musicians who play such a large role in keeping this union alive. Our 2007 analysis of AFM finances showed that work dues from orchestra musicians covered by collective bargaining agreements accounted for over 55% of all work dues paid to the Federation between 2001 and 2005. This 55% represents over $8.3 million. In 2006 alone, the AFM collected over $2 million from orchestra musicians in the United States and Canada.
In 2007, a Call to Action from ICSOM was successful in defeating a proposal to raise work dues on symphonic musicians. That Call to Action asked for petitions to be signed by the musicians in our orchestras, and delivered to Local officers and convention delegates. Once again, in 2010, the ICSOM team is preparing to argue against onerous proposals. We need your help, and we cannot be successful without you.
In the 2007 Call to Action, we stated:
“While the AFM has asked for more money, it has never explained where these additional funds will be spent.”
We also pointed out that ICSOM musicians pay a huge percentage of the work dues in their locals, citing examples of:
“83%, 79%, 87%, 77%, 90%, 97%, and 99%!”
Further proposals might be introduced at the convention as well, and we may have to argue against other issues that would negatively affect orchestral musicians. We need to arrive on the floor of the convention with the demonstrable support of all of ICSOM’s members.
The time for activism is once again upon us. We ask you to speak with your colleagues, your local officers and convention delegates. Let them know that the accounting we called for in 2007 has not been achieved. Let them know that while the AFM has been taken down a path of disunity through political attacks, the input of the symphonic musicians who have contributed so loyally has been ignored. Let your local officers know that the musicians who pay their salaries are aware of these unfair proposals from the Federation. Further, we call upon the delegates of the convention to cast their votes on these recommendations by roll call so that their members can be aware of their positions.
In the coming weeks, there will be postings about these issues on Delegate-L and Orchestra-L. We ask all ICSOM delegates to forward these messages to your colleagues and orchestra committees.
A sample letter will be distributed to your ICSOM delegates, and we hope that all orchestra members sign such a letter to protest these divisive and unfair proposals from the AFM President and the Federation leadership. Please deliver those letters to your local officers and convention delegates.
We all believe in a strong union. To achieve that, we must let our voices be heard. Communicate with your colleagues, your local officers, and your AFM convention delegates. Our strength lies in the unity of ICSOM.
Fortunately for our cause, the officers of our AFM locals are those AFM officials with whom we work most closely, and they are often highly sympathetic to symphonic player concerns. Let them know how you feel. We must make the effort, and from this effort will grow a strengthened cause for our orchestras to elect delegates from within our ranks. We ask that our locals join with us in a demand for a full and ongoing accounting of the use of our money by the Federation. We will make this union accountable to the very people who keep it afloat as we reach out in solidarity to all of our Federation brothers and sisters.
Bruce Ridge
ICSOM Chairman