I hope that everyone had a relaxing summer — with plenty of live music! Here at Local 802, we spent July and August working hard on re-opening Local 802. After two years of closure, we finally re-opened the union building for regular business. The hours of the building vary according to each department, but the building is generally open from 9am to 6pm, Monday through Friday. Before you make an in-person trip to the union building, please view our staff directory and call ahead of time to make sure that staff are available in the department you wish to visit. Thank you for your patience as we worked over the past two years to make sure the building was safe and properly ventilated. As always, you must be fully vaccinated to enter the building, and masks are required. You will also fill out a short health survey at the front desk before being allowed to enter. Click here for a complete staff directory as well as information on renting the rehearsal rooms or picking up recording checks.

I’m also pleased to report that Local 802 is almost completely re-staffed. We still have an opening for a full-time business rep in the Concert Department. For more information, or to apply, please forward a cover letter and resume to: lmejia@local802afm.org.

Local 802 is rebooting our political efforts and we expect to get busier in our civic engagement as the general election on November 8 approaches. This is a crucial time for our country and our eyes are on the U.S. House and Senate. If you have any questions about our endorsement process or help with voting, please contact our new chief of staff Dan Point, who introduces himself in this issue of Allegro.

BROADWAY

We just finished negotiating the renewal of our Broadway agreement. As NYC continues its recovery from the pandemic, the Broadway committee was able to craft a fair deal that gives us a little breathing room. We came up with a two-year contract with wage increases of 3 percent each year and a commitment to form a labor management committee for diversity, equity and inclusion. As Allegro goes to press, the Broadway musicians are voting to ratify the agreement.

PLAYER CONFERENCES

I just returned from the annual gathering of the International Conference of Symphony and Orchestral Musicians (ICSOM). Chair Meredith Snow and President Paul Austin have kindly agreed to let us reprint their reports here in Allegro. I also attended the conference of the Theatre Musicians Association (TMA), and Karen Fisher attended the conference of the Regional Orchestral Players Association (ROPA); you can read Karen’s report here.

EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND SUMMER FUNDRAISER

For those who don’t know, the Local 802 Musicians’ Emergency Relief Fund provides Local 802 members with reliable assistance in times of trouble and dire need. This need may arise from catastrophic illness, dramatic career downturns, or due to demonstrable financial hardship. Many musicians suffer from episodic employment and lack health insurance, pensions and other benefits found in most full-time jobs, and as a result this career is often a difficult one, lived without a safety net. The Emergency Relief Fund can offer:

• Financial assistance
• Mental health support
• Addiction and recovery aid
• HIV/AIDS services
• Senior services or caregiving support
• Services due to chronic health, illness and injury
• Career support
• General social service help

As Local 802 member Bob Dylan — who also serves as an honorary advisory board member — famously wrote, “The times they are a’changing.” This has never been more evident than in the lives of musical artists who are aging and face declines in health and financial security. When they need assistance, our Emergency Relief Fund is there for them, providing support and assurance that they are not alone in their later years. The ERF needs the sustaining support of music lovers and patrons of the arts to ensure that no deserving member goes without aid in times of crisis. Your tax-deductible contribution will ensure that the music will play on! To apply for help or to donate to our summer fundraiser, start at https://erf.local802afm.org

CONGESTION PRICING

New York City is poised to charge a toll for drivers below 60th Street. The concept is called congestion pricing and the idea is to make it a disincentive to drive in high-traffic areas to help increase air quality and create a greener city. It would be the first congestion pricing experiment in the country. The problem is that congestion pricing unfairly penalizes those workers who must drive to their gigs, like many of our members. Local 802 is asking for exceptions for musicians and sent this testimony to the MTA.

CITIFIELD

Join Local 802 and the Mets for “Union Strong Night” at Citi Field. Saturday, Sept. 3 at 7:15pm vs. the Washington Nationals. Buy a ticket and get a free “Union Strong” shirt through this link.

LABOR PARADE: MARCH WITH LOCAL 802 ON SEPT. 10

WHAT: 2022 NYC Labor Parade

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 10

WHERE: Look for the Local 802 float on East 44th Street between Madison & Vanderbilt Ave.

WHAT TIME: Gather in front of the Local 802 float at 9am; then we start marching together at 10am

MORE INFO: Local 802 Organizing Director John Pietaro (Jpietaro@Local802afm.org or 646-599-0060)

The New York City Labor Parade is back for the first time since 2019! Tens of thousands of workers representing more than 200 unions and constituency groups will come together in a powerful show of labor solidarity on the 140th Anniversary of the first Labor Day parade in the United States, when more than 10,000 workers marched from New York City Hall to Union Square in 1882. This year, the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO is honored to be led by Parade Grand Marshal U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and Parade Chairs AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond and NYS Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. The theme of this year’s parade is Workers Leading, Workers Rising, reflecting the enormous surge in labor activism and organizing that is taking place across the nation and across all sectors of the workforce, leading to historic worker victories and an increase in worker power. Please join us for a fantastic day of solidarity and fun!

PLAY BALL!

For the first time in over three decades, the Local 802 team made it to the championships in the Performing Arts Softball League! Thank you to Local 802 member Louis Crocco for organizing the team and co-managing with Jeff Nelson and David Olson. To try out for next year’s team, send an e-mail to: lbcrocco@aol.com

MUSICIANS’ HEALTH FUND

The Summary Annual Report for our health fund can be found here in this issue of Allegro.