Musician's Union Issues

Subject: Musician's Union Issues
From: JedMarum
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 08:36 PM

I am curious about your experience with US musician's unions. I think I'd like to take advantage of some of the union's benefits, but have some questions about how it works.

First of all I travel quite a bit, so would be playing outside my 'local' probably more often then not. Can I just join a National local (is there such a thing). Secondly, what are the restrictions? What do I have to tell them about my work? Thirdly - the benefits. I am most interested in buying insurance for my gear; instruments and sound equip. I presume I can buy good coverage for a reasonable cost. Yes?

Subject: RE: Musician's Union Issues
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 09:20 PM

Hunt down Local 1000 on google.

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Musician's Union Issues
From: DebC
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 09:49 PM

I just joined Local 1000 and I am VERY impressed.

I suppose that I can sum it up in two words: NO PRESSURE

I felt that by joining only good can come of it. Since I already have health insurance (through domestic partner benefits) I am going to take advantage of the instrument insurance and the pension fund.

The other exciting news is that Local 1000 has entered into a collective bargaining agreement with the Clearwater Festival. The details are too lengthy to go into here, but ine thing that is very cool is that all of the benefits for the artists at Clearwater will cover non-union musicians as well. Everyone benefits.

Here is the Local 1000 website.

Deb

Subject: RE: Musician's Union Issues
From: DougR
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 10:03 PM

I think you will find that the strength of the union varies from local to local, Jed. Since you are seeking, primarily, insurance for your instruments, your local could probably provide that too. I would think Dallas would have a fairly strong local.

DougR

Subject: RE: Musician's Union Issues
From: DougR
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 10:05 PM

You probably would want to check on regulations regarding union musicians performing in venues that are not union, however.

DougR

Subject: RE: Musician's Union Issues
From: Big Mick
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 11:46 PM

Jed, Local 1000 is definitely the one for you. It was created exactly for the travelling performer like yourself. You still have access to the Pension and the all risks insurance. That insurance is a peach. Cost you a little over $100.00 a year for $10,000 worth of coverage, and it will cover everything you put on the schedule right down to sheet music. And it does it with a $100.00/yr. deductible. And the venues don't have to be union, it is a craft union. Anyplace that you get a signed contract with, you simply file the contract with the union. If the owner stiffs you, you turn it over to the union and they go after the money on your behalf. I have heard that some owners don't want to sign contracts, but that one is easy for me. It simply means they don't intend, or may not want to honor their committment. No contract, no play.

Mick

Subject: RE: Musician's Union Issues
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 12:04 AM

The Rick has given an excellent place....most powerful union's strength is coastal....inland, the need is sometimes nill, and sometimes the local.

Subject: RE: Musician's Union Issues
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 12:15 AM

Depending upon the length of the gig, and the city ordinances (ie Las Veigas, Chicago) you may need a local union membership for individual performances.

An excellent alternative to Rick's is The American Federation of Musicians

They are the largest, and it does pay to shop around. http://www.afm.org/

Subject: RE: Musician's Union Issues
From: Big Mick
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 12:24 AM

Garg, Local 1000 is a local within The American Federation of Musicians. It is a local union with nationwide jurisdiction which was created by the AFT for travelling musicians so that they wouldn't have to pay working dues everyplace they went.

Mick

Subject: RE: Musician's Union Issues
From: DougR
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 08:38 PM

Is that relatively new, Mick? Local 1000, I mean.

DougR

Subject: RE: Musician's Union Issues
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 11:57 PM

I belonged to loc. 149 (here in Toronto) for twenty seven years, until I finally could not stomache the idiocy and mismanagement any longer. It took a LOT for me to turn my back on it (my Mom was in it for almost 40 years) but the last three meetings I went to simply defied description.

rick

Subject: RE: Musician's Union Issues
From: Big Mick
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 12:30 AM

Yeah, Rick. Local Unions are like that. They are just like any other small elective bodies. It is up to the members to elect good officers. All together too often they just keep the same old leadership even if it is failing, or they elect new folks even if the old ones are doing a capable job. Like any other form of democracy, it works if the electorate takes an active interest in it. Here in West Michigan, we have a very bright and hardworking Secretary Treasurer, Gary Sironen, who is constantly working to protect the interests of his members. He is backed by an activist board that is constantly challenging the status quo and looking for more ways to get a bang for the buck. And they will pursue owners who renige on signed contracts relentlessly.

Doug, my friend, Local 1000 has been around for a while, probably 15 years or so. It was created with folks like Seamus, Rick, and Jed in mind. The Locals required work dues for every jurisdiction you worked in. Got very burdensome and was costing us members. The International, working in concert with the locals, addressed the specific needs of the travelling national acts with its creation. You would be very surprised at the names of its members. It serves large stars and the average musician who make their living on the road.

For me, my dues run about $115.00/year. The Local gets me (a casual musician) 3 to 5 jobs a year which more than covers my dues. I also get paid from the Performing Arts Trust when I play free venues, such as the Festival of the Arts. Add in the amazing all risk insurance for a very reasonable price, and it is a very good deal. I can't speak for anyone else, but I find it to be a helluva good deal. They also have a pension plan that gives a very good rate of return.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Musician's Union Issues
From: DougR
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 08:09 PM

Well that would figure, I guess, Mick. I haven't delt with musician union matters for about thirty years, and no such local existed at that time that I was aware of of. It sounds like a helluva good idea though, and I'm glad they created it for the traveling musicians.

DougR

Subject: RE: Musician's Union Issues
From: JedMarum
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 12:51 PM

Thanks for all the imput. I'll be researching local 1000.

Subject: RE: Musician's Union Issues
From: JedMarum
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 09:54 AM

Well this is becoming most interesting. I've been reading up on the local 1000 website and I've learned some things AND I have sent a couple of follow up questions to them for clarification.

I have never had any reason to be concerned over payment from clubs. I know it is a possibility but I can't say I'd join the union just for that reason (they will enforce the contract and be sure that you never get stiffed for contract gigs). But tey offer excellent insurance for instruments and equipment. I am basically uninsured, at the moment. My homeowner's policy covers my stuff while its in the house. My car owner's policy will not insure musical instruments or gear that are used for professional purposes, and I have no coverage when the gear's out and being used. I own lotsa sound equipment, and use it frequently - my instruments ain't cheap - so insurance coverage is important to me. Local 1000 has an atractive insurance policy.

The pension plan look good, but you must have a union contract in place and the hiring party is responsible for paying into the fund - that is, I cannot contribute to the pension plan myself, the venue hiring me must pay the appropriate percentage to the union find. You can set your prices so that venue is paying over and above - but getting many of the clubs I work for to agree to write and mail a check to the union fund is simply not going to work. These guys have enough head ache without me adding to their burden, and many of the clubs are simply not responsible enough! Even if they agreed to it. So I've asked if this step is optional - can I join the union and NOT participate in the pension fund.

Local 1000 offers other insurance; health, term, liability and disability - I haven't read the fine print, but these packages looked pretty good too.

They also claim to offer help with work visas between Canada and US (I don;t know about UK or Europe).

I can work with non-union musicians, as a member. I can work without a contract, if I choose

So, depending upon the answer to my pension plan question I may be joining.

Subject: RE: Musician's Union Issues
From: DebC
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 01:59 PM

Hey jed,

Those were my very concerns about the pension plan. When I spoke to Amy Fix (the answer lady at Local 1000) she said that the only "in-stone" rule about the pension plan is that the check must be written *by the venue* to Local 1000 for the pension and their Music Services Contarct must be used. As long as all the paperwork is done correctly, it isn't that difficult.

The bottom line is that you (the musician) can do all the footwork. The venue check can be written at the time of your fee check and then you can send the pension check to Local 1000.

Soemthing that I have done is raise my fees a wee bit to include the pension. So the presenter will pay the % of the agreed upon fee.

Again, the only possible hassle for a presenter is writing two checks. I can see that as a problem for some of the Arts Councils that I work for, but for venues that write a straight check, it shouldn't be that hard.

Jed, if you have any other questions, send me a private msg with your email and we can talk that way. I can also fax you some of the literature if you like.

Best, Deb