Gareth Ormita
Do you ever wonder what ICSOM does with your annual dues? It is the primary goal of this Governing Board to represent and serve the membership, which includes information gathering and sharing. This June, I was given the opportunity to represent ICSOM at two conferences: the Labor Notes Conference held in Chicago and the 103rd AFM Convention in Ottawa. While distinctly different from each other, they were both informative and valuable experiences, and I’m glad to have served at both.
Labor Notes is the organization ICSOM has engaged in previous years. Their thoughtful presentations on labor organizing, unification and bargaining tactics are just a sliver of what they provide, and their own conference was nothing short of incredible. There were approximately 4,700 attendees, and with so many offerings on the schedule, it was impossible to attend every seminar. Over two and a half days, I went to 11 panels, each covering a topic I thought was relevant to what orchestras face in the arts realm. Such topics included how to give trainings that engage and inspire, bargaining when the boss claims they are broke, how to grow into your role as a newly elected leader, burnout prevention, social media engagement for your cause, and the concept of open bargaining, which I found very interesting to learn about since our orchestras generally do not practice this method.
What was most impactful was seeing union members across every industry come together in solidarity to share ideas that worked, things that did not, and be together in the spirit of unionism. Not only did it show we share common issues in regards to fair pay, working conditions, and workplace safety, but it also showed the true power in numbers and what power we really do hold as a union.
On that subject, it turned out to be pretty great timing to attend Labor Notes and then travel from Chicago to Ottawa just a week later for the AFM Convention. I attended alongside Keith Carrick, Nicole Jordan, and Kevin Case in a non-voting capacity, but we were allowed to observe and participate in all sessions excepting the election process.
While we could not cast a vote on recommendations or resolutions, we could and did give testimony in committee meetings and on the floor of the convention. It was fascinating to see what policies resonated with delegates, and which were under speculation and revision. In having many one-on-one conversations, it became clear how much disparity there is between big and small locals. This is something that was actively discussed throughout the convention and I am hopeful these continued discussions will lead to bridging that gap via policy reform such as the multi-local rebate that was recently passed.
Attending the convention taught me so much about the inner workings of the AFM at its highest level. I now understand better the role of the IEB and the other AFM officer positions far more than I did prior to this summer. At this point, you might be wondering how my trips serve you? The more this Governing Board educates ourselves, the more we can offer when questions arise from your orchestras. Particularly at the AFM convention, it was valuable to meet so many local officers and representatives of other players’ conferences we do not see often. Deepening our connections with ROPA, RMA, OCSM, and the newly-minted Freelance Musicians Association (FMA) helps us coordinate ideas like our Strike Fund proposal to ensure our goals are not to the detriment of others. It also allows us to stand with them if they call on us for support as each group navigates their own issues.
We are constantly seeking new ways to improve our work spaces and fresh ideas to share with all of you. Consider it an investment to educate and integrate ourselves, particularly in solidarity with other labor unions, and of course with other locals within our own union.
