Allegro
Currently Browsing: November, 2003
Teaching Artists Win the Right to Vote
Chalk up another victory for teachers. Despite efforts to thwart them, teaching artists at the Metropolitan Opera Guild have won the right to organize. The National Labor Relations Board ruled on Sept. 22 that Guild teaching artists were employees –
Forward Thinking: ICSOM Musicians Take Challenges Head On
Orchestras filing for bankruptcy. Underpaid musicians. Poorly managed symphonies. The problems of playing classical music are many – and they’re not new, either. The International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians – ICSOM – was established in 1962 to fight
New School Teachers Go for Union
802's Contracts Inspire Others to Organize
In 1998, jazz instructors at the New School won their first union contract with Local 802. Two years later, the New School’s Guitar Study Center followed suit. Inspired by their experiences, other faculty at the New School are fighting to
French Freelance Artists Strike Back!
Although it has received almost no coverage in the U.S., the largest collective action by performing artists at least since the AFM recording strike of the 1940’s is going on now in France. Freelance musicians, artists and technicians have united
President’s Report
Live Music Takes Center Stage: Broadway Musicians Serve Up Outdoor Concerts
As you may recall, in the almost two years leading up to the past Broadway negotiations, Local 802 engaged in a public relations campaign built around the theme of live music. A series of radio ads was created, read both
Health Care or Health Careless?
Guest Commentary
A core group in the House of Representatives no longer wants Medicare to run as a government program that guarantees a set of health benefits at a known price. Instead, they want to establish a government-financed voucher system in which
Al Hirschfeld Would be Proud: A Free Health Clinic Bearing His Name Expands
Musicians' Assistance Program
Members who don’t qualify for the Local 802 health plan, take heart! There is an expanded clinic for uninsured musicians. The Actors’ Fund – which sponsors the Musicians’ Assistance Program – has announced a new partnership with New York-Presbyterian Hospital
If You’re Discriminated Against: A Gude for Musicians (Part III)
Local 802 Legal Corner
Click here for Part I and Part II There are several published decisions involving employment discrimination claims brought by professional musicians which serve as interesting illustrations of the principles of employment law set forth in my last article. In this
Live From Broadway…802 Musicians Play for Public
Dozens of musicians from Broadway volunteered to present free concerts on the TKTS island (Duffy Square) at 46th Street and Broadway, on Sept. 21 and Oct. 2. The events were organized by the union’s Public Relations Subcommittee of the Broadway
Natural Ways to Beat the Flu
Lifestyle Notes
We all know about SARS, but that is only the latest in a long list of viral-based diseases that have affected the human race. Others include the common cold, flu, warts, measles, bronchitis, chickenpox, mononucleosis, mumps, shingles, sore throat, hepatitis,
The Musicians’ Voice
The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. Please keep all letters to 300 words and send them to Allegro, c/o Local 802, 322 West 48th Street, New York, NY 10036, or e-mail
Legislative Update
ON ELECTION DAY, CHECK OUT THE FINE PRINT Local 802 urges members to consider ballot proposals On Nov. 4, besides electing candidates, voters will decide on six proposals. The union is particularly concerned with questions 3, 4, 5 and 6,
Quick Notes
VIRTUAL ORCHESTRA PICKETED Musicians, actors and stagehands picketed a nonunion touring company’s production of “Miss Saigon” that played Sept. 23-28 in Boston. The show, produced by Big League Theatricals, utilized a virtual orchestra with a few nonunion musicians filling out
Negotiations Roundup
JILLBERN MUSIC The Executive Board has approved – and the bandmembers of Jillbern Music have ratified – a successor agreement with owner Herb Bernstein. Improvements over the previous agreement include a scale increase to $185 from $175 for up to
Executive Board Minutes
July 22, 2003 -- August 5, 2003
TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2003 Meeting called to order at 12:15 p.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison. President
Bill Crow’s Band Room
Chris Kimball is a drummer from the Pacific Northwest and the son of my old friend the late Ken Kimball, pianist and teacher. Chris was looking for a way to raise money for the International Rotary Club’s Polio Plus program.