rma

Dear Colleagues,

Negotiations between the American Federation of Musicians and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers resumed in the last week of August, 2013. Discussions were held in caucus (each side separately and privately amongst themselves), in sidebar (a small group of representatives from each side in a small room), and across the table.

We did not conclude an Agreement, and the next round is currently being scheduled. We will keep you posted with information as soon as it becomes available.

Marc Sazer
President, RMA

Dear Colleagues,

Please take just a moment to support the Musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra.

Follow the link, tinyurl.com/a2z3fwf, and add your voice to the growing chorus of supporters saying – enough is enough!

AFM President Ray Hair gave a ground-breaking speech about the Musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra at a solidarity concert presented by the musicians of the San Francisco Symphony, which can be seen and heard at youtu.be/yFT1WPPPDXo.

Please join musicians and their friends everwhere in sending a firm message. End the lockout. End the attack on the livelihoods, the families, the health care and pensions of these world class musicians. Your support will just take a moment. Follow the link now.

Thank you for your support of our friends and colleagues.

Marc Sazer
President, RMA

The Recording Musicians Association held it’s biennial General Conference over the first two days of March, 2013. This year, the Conference took place in Los Angeles, generously hosted by Professional Musicians Local 47. This year, 2013, was the 30th Anniversary of the founding of RMA in 1983. Read the rest of this entry »

On Saturday, March 2 2013, RMA sponsored a panel on Organizing Employment: Working in the Entertainment Industry. The event featured an all-star cast of union professionals: SAG-AFTRA Assistant National Executive Directorof Sound Recordings Randy Himes, Teamsters Local 399 Business Agent and Organizer Steve Dayan, Writers Guild of America West Lead Organizer Melodie Shaw and our own AFM President Ray Hair. Read the rest of this entry »

The Recording Musicians Association will be holding it’s General Conference on Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2, in the auditorium of Professional Musicians Local 47 in Los Angeles. The RMA was incorporated in 1983, making 2013 the 30th Anniversary of our founding.

The Conference will culminate on Saturday afternoon with a panel on organizing in the Entertainment Industry with representatives of our sister unions and guilds, SAG-AFTRA, WGA, IATSE, the Teamsters and the AFM.

Dear members, friends and colleagues,

In the current (January 2013) edition of the International Musician, the official journal of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, President Ray Hair has written an important column about residuals, royalties and intellectual property rights for musicians. All AFM members should take a look. Read the rest of this entry »

Dear members, friends and colleagues,

We hope that during this time of holidays, rest and reflection you have experienced the joy of family and good times.

Thanks to each and every one of you for your support, your comments, suggestions – and yes – questions and criticisms, all of which are the foundation of our effectiveness. Rank and file participation is the basis for making the AFM the strongest union it can be. Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Colleagues,

Earlier this month we shared the plight of the musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra with our colleagues around North America (see article). In light of their current lockout, we salute these tremendous musicians on their 2013 Grammy nomination.

The Minnesota Orchestra was nominated for Category 72, Best Orchestral Performance, for their recording of Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5, with Osmo Vänskä, conductor (Minnesota Orchestra). The album is available on ITunes through the link below.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sibelius-symphonies-nos.-2-5/id496651393